What's at stake

Whoever holds the UFC bantamweight title on December 31, 2026 will be recognized as the division champion and carry the belt through the start of 2027.

That status means champion-level pay, promotional priority, and the obligation to defend the 135‑lb crown against top contenders.

Who's in play

Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O'Malley, Song Yadong, Aiemann Zahabi, and Mario Bautista appear as front-line names in the market.

Petr Yan, Umar Nurmagomedov, Cory Sandhagen, Deiveson Figueiredo, Marlon Vera, David Martinez, and Payton Talbott are also listed as possible champions depending on fights and timing.

What drives it

Fight results and UFC booking decisions are the primary causal levers: wins, losses, rematches, and any interim-title bouts reshape the ladder to the belt.

Injuries, suspensions, weight-class moves, contract status, and how the promotion prioritizes matchups also change who gets a title shot.

What to watch

Scheduled title defenses, top‑15 contender matchups, and any interim title announcements through 2026 will indicate which fighters are being positioned for the belt.

Also track official ranking updates, fighter medical/weight-cut news, matchup announcements at numbered cards, and any retirements or moves between weight classes before year-end.