Ufc weight classes in pounds

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The UFC, like many martial arts and combat sports, includes a number of weight classifications known as divisions. We won't discuss all of the categories because it would be pointless; instead, we'll provide them to you in points, which should be self-explanatory:. The major goal of UFC weight classes is to level the playing field and allow opponents who are reasonably similar to face one other without having a noticeable advantage. The first weight divisions in the UFC were launched in If a fighter fails to make weight for a title bout, they will be ineligible to win the UFC belt at stake even if they win the fight. UFC divisions are divided by weight to ensure that competitors are matched up against similar opponents. A discrepancy in weight or total size would give the bigger competitor an unfair edge.

Ufc weight classes in pounds

As with any combat sport, fighters compete against each other in a specific weight class. A heavier fighter will be bigger, stronger, and chances are, have a more extended reach, so fighters cut or gain weight effectively to suit a particular division. In the UFC, there are 12 weight classes, 8 for men and 4 for women. The strawweight has a max weight of lb up to lb max to the featherweight division. To give you an idea, lb is ten stone. As the UFC is an independent promotion, they have their own weight classes. They may have the same weight names as in boxing, but the weights themselves are different. For instance, the middleweight division in the UFC is between lb to lb, and in boxing, the middleweight is between lb — lb. Also, as there are fewer weight classes in the UFC than boxing, there is a wider weight gap in each division that has an approximate 15 lb weight difference between the lightest and heaviest in the same class. Whereas in boxing, fighters will be closer together in weight.

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Since then, the promotion has made waves and effectively taken over MMA , breeding some of the UFC's biggest stars with the weight system combined with rankings allowing for the best fights to be made. There are strict regulations in place to ensure that fighters are able to get to their optimum weight safely, and the implementation of weight classes in the UFC attempts to ensure that everyone competes on an even playing field. And here is everything you need to know about the weight classes and what their limits are in both pounds and kilograms. The category was introduced by the UFC and has been a thriving category with fighters able to compete between lb and the upper limit of lb. It is a division which has seen brilliant fights since it's inaugural title bout in , with Carla Esparza becoming the first champion of the division by beating Rose Namajaunas that year. It is a title that has changed hands with regularity but is now currently held by Chinese champion Zhang Weili who defeated Esparza before making a successful first defence of her title against Amanda Lemos in The newest weight division in the UFC was announced in , with the women's flyweight class ranked with an upper limit of lb in parallel with the existing flyweights.

Despite the common misunderstanding that the UFC weight classes are the same as MMA weight classes, that is not the case. UFC has 8 weight divisions for men and 4 for women, whereas MMA has 14 weight divisions just for men. That is 6 weight classes less, even though some websites claim they are the same. There is also no minimum weight to the flyweight class, or if there were, it would make no sense. It would also not be necessary. If you can have more weight on you when you fight, you should probably bulk up, since your opponent is likely going to weigh as much as they can. As you can see, there are only 8 weight divisions for men in the UFC weight classes. MMA has 14 different divisions. More about MMA divisions later in this post. Even though the weights in the charts are the same, there are 6 fewer weight divisions in the UFC, than there are in the MMA.

Ufc weight classes in pounds

While there are potentially several more weight classes UFC could use from the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts , these are the nine only that they stick with. Weight classes are needed to ensure a fair competition between two fighters. Though there can be a secret tenth weight class, known as Catchweight — so keep reading to learn more about it. In terms of viewership, research suggests that pay-per-view buyers are most interested in watching Heavyweight fights. This most likely is a remnant from Boxing fans who are used to paying the biggest bucks to get access to the biggest fights. And sometimes that means literally! Women are physically different than men as they are smaller in size, frame, and weight. Potentially, an Atomweight or other similar weight class could be added in the future. But there needs to be enough fighters and enough demand to support it. There are a total of fourteen weight classes possible in mixed martial arts that other promotions can use.

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What would probably happen is huge men would be brought into UFC with little or no actual martial arts ability. Fantasy match-ups? Cruz emerged victorious via a unanimous decision and successfully defended his title the following year against Urijah Faber. Silva was given the chance to immediately regain his title at UFC Upon regaining the welterweight title, Georges St-Pierre began one of the longest champion streaks in UFC history, defeating a host of skilled challengers between View all our Sportsbooks in one place! Caesars 4. Sportsbooks Sportsbooks. He remained featherweight champion for two years, without actually defending his title. Of his seven defenses, Aldo won by unanimous decision five times, underlining his technical superiority over every other fighter in the division. It has since gone on from strength to strength and produced some heritage fighters including the likes of Dominick Cruz, TJ Dillashaw, Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo.

Given its global popularity continues to surge, the way in which the Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC works may still be hard to comprehend for newer fans or mixed martial artslaymen.

Couture would go on to have a storied career in the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions, becoming one of only six men to hold titles in two separate classes. Bisping successfully defended his title once before being scheduled to fight the returning welterweight superstar Georges St-Pierre. In general, the best paid weight divisions in the UFC are the ones which are considered one of the oldest divisions in the UFC. Injury troubles plagued dos Anjos, and he eventually lost his belt to Eddie Alvarez. In an epic encounter, Penn looked to have an early advantage only for injuries to take their toll by the third round. Kevin Randleman eventually won the title and held it until , when Couture was offered the chance to return to the UFC to take a shot at his previous title. In this section, we will examine the ongoing debate around the need for additional weight classes, such as a cruiserweight division, and consider the potential impact these changes could have on the UFC and the broader world of MMA. For non-title bouts, light heavyweight athletes can weigh in up to pounds, while title fights require athletes to weigh in at or under pounds. The UFC bantamweight division is characterized by its fast-paced action and incredible displays of athleticism. The UFC, like many martial arts and combat sports, includes a number of weight classifications known as divisions.