![]() ![]() Conor McGregor then became the double-champ by winning the UFC Lightweight Division Belt from Eddie Alvarez in 2016. ![]() Won the interim UFC Featherweight Championship in 2015, then became the UFC Featherweight Champion in 2015 after beating Jose Aldo. He became the Interim UFC Lightweight Champion in 2019 after beating Max Holloway.Īndrius Petrucenia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commonsįeatherweight 2008-2015, Lightweight 2008-2012, 2016-2018, 2021-Present, Welterweight 2016, 2020. She also became UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion in 2018 after beating Cris Cyborg. One Catchweight fight against Rashid Abdullah in 2013.įeatherweight 2008-2011, Bantamweight 2011-Present.īecame UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion in 2016 after beating Miesha Tate. JoeKhanMMA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commonsīecame UFC Welterweight Champion in 2019 after beating Tyron Woodley. Some of these fighters have had experience in different divisions, and I’ll note each one: If you’re wondering what the weight class is for some of your favorite fighters, then let me help. Over time, other divisions were introduced, and actual weights were moved around as the sport continued to evolve and more fighters joined up. The title wasn’t around for very long, but Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn were two winners between 19.īut the Superfight Champion title, along with the Openweight weight class, was removed in 1997 when the UFC finally introduced Heavyweight to replace the Superfight title and Lightweight. The title was formed to create an ultimate champion that anyone could challenge, regardless of weight. The Openweight class was also used in special events called the Superfight Championship. They’d have to pick their states carefully and get the proper permissions from the state office and the athletic commission. It’s clear then why the UFC struggled a lot in its early formative years (probably 10-15 years of struggle) to get the legal approvals necessary even to put on a show. Openweight meant that any fighter could fight any other if they agreed. Every UFC fight night was in the Openweight class. Up until 1997, the UFC officially had NO weight classes at all. This hadn’t been done before, and in the early 1990s, mixed martial arts was only just getting started in the United States. It was THE ultimate fighting tournament to decide who was the better fighter. This was one of the early promotional messages that came with the UFC. The beginnings of The Ultimate Fighting Championship were intended to create a tournament where any fighter could fight any other, regardless of size or weight. And the Super Lightweight, Super Welterweight, Super Middleweight, and Cruiserweight classes were added in 2017. When these weight divisions were first created in the Unified Rules Of MMA in 2000, nine were in total.Īs the sport of MMA has evolved, though, an additional four have been added. This is the list of weight classes for the women’s UFC divisions, including their upper weight limit in kilograms and pounds: This most likely is a remnant from Boxing fans who are used to paying the biggest bucks to get access to the biggest fights. In terms of viewership, research suggests that pay-per-view buyers are most interested in watching Heavyweight fights. For example, a Middleweight fighter challenges a Light Heavyweight fighter.Ī real-life example of this was when the Middleweight fighter Rich Franklin agreed to a Catchweight at 88.45 kg / 195 lbs against the Light Heavyweight Wanderlei Silva for UFC 99. The Catchweight can sometimes be used to arrange a fight night from the start, particularly when two fighters want to fight each other but usually weigh in very different divisions. They’ll only get paid for making an appearance and not for nearly making an appearance. Without this new agreement at a Catchweight, both fighters could lose the opportunity to fight and make money. The UFC will check in with fighters periodically leading up to the fight, and if one fighter is unable to make weight, both fighters may be forced to enter a new contract agreement for the contest. The catchweight is used when one or both fighters have been unable to meet the standard weight division requirements on the day before a fight. Sometimes fighters will also compete at a “ Catchweight.” This could be any weight between both fighters. A total of eight weight classes are the usual divisions available for male UFC fighters.
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