Issue 189
November -0001
There are many good reasons for a fighter to move into a different weight division, but, as these eight examples show, it doesn't always end well.
Luke Rockhold
Rockhold moved to light heavyweight in 2019, with many seeing him as a challenger to Jon Jones, only to be KO'd by Jan B?achowicz in his first bout in the new weight class.
Anthony Pettis
‘Showtime’ won his first bout after dropping to featherweight, but, after missing weight in an interim title fight that he went on to lose, he called the cut to 145lbs “death.”
Sage Northcutt
After making the move to welterweight, Northcutt picked up the first two losses of his pro career which derailed the hype train surrounding him at the time.
Rory MacDonald
A move up to face then Bellator 185lb champ, Gegard Mousasi seemed like a dream matchup on paper, but Macdonald was TKO’d by the bigger man in the second.
Marcus Brimage
Feeling that he might be undersized for featherweight, Brimage made the drop to 135lbs but won only one of five bouts before being released by the UFC in the process.
TJ Dillashaw
Dillashaw dropped to 125lbs to face flyweight champ, Henry Cejudo but was KO’d in 32 seconds and later tested positive for a banned substance which saw him suspended.
Rashad Evans
A drop down to middleweight looked like a way for Rashad Evans to get back into the title picture, but after back-to-back losses and a KO defeat back at 205lbs, Evans retired.
Lorenz Larkin
A move down to middleweight didn't go to plan for Lorenz Larkin winning only two of his six bouts at that weight and losing his undefeated record in the process.
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