Fighters Only

Issue 140

April 2016

FO editor Nick Peet investigates the scale of weight-class reform and concludes that more divisions in MMA won’t mean more championship belts in the UFC.

Later this year the Unified Rules of MMA will likely take on an amendment to introduce new weight classes following reports the Association of Boxing Commissions’ (ABC) support for introduction of an array of new divisions in the sport.

Super lightweight (165lb), super middleweight (195lb) and cruiserweight (225lb) are three of the weight divisions proposed and appear likely to become an option to MMA promotions. Don’t hold your breath in anticipation for an influx of championship belts in the cages of the leading organizations, though.

A lack of talent above 185lb means it’s unlikely the UFC or Bellator will do much with the new weight classes, except possibly incorporate a new 165lb belt, which would subsequently likely see the welterweight division move up 5lb to 175lb.

At the start of this year, the California State Athletic Commission proposed a 30% increase in the number of weight classes for MMA. It was a bid to combat weight-cutting issues that impede the sport at practically every level.

It’s hoped that by refining heavier weight classes so they’re closer to the uniformed 10lb difference in the lighter divisions, fighters won’t have to cut as much in order to make weight. Thus, they’ll take less of a risk with their health.

However, with so little depth in talent above 185lb, the addition of any proposed super middleweight or cruiserweight divisions into the Octagon appears unlikely. As is the case with the lack of the already-recognized 265lb-plus super heavyweight class and women’s 145lb roster in both industry leaders, it really is down to the organizations themselves to incorporate and champion weight classes they see the most potential in.

If Bellator or the UFC introduced another two weight classes over 185lb, the thinned-out talent pool would become little more than a puddle. Unlike the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight classes – which are packed, stacked and racked with fight finishers and legit title contenders – the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions are headed up by just a handful of guys, who stand out atop an almost unassailable cliff over the supporting peloton.

There are presently about eight truly world-class fighters heading up the 265lb and 205lb divisions combined in the UFC – athletes that could and should challenge for the championship belt. And until that picture changes dramatically, there is little or no reason to even think about adding more weight classes to the elite end of the MMA spectrum.

So what’s the point? Well, any weight class reshuffle isn’t necessarily for the big boys to follow. Incorporating these new weight classes into lower-level regional, or even amateur MMA, is what’s viewed as an essential measure.

Athletes have to be given the opportunity to compete closer to their natural weights, especially in organizations and at training facilities where weight-cutting advice and education may be lacking or redundant. By having more weight classes, athletes at all levels will naturally filter into more appropriate divisions without putting themselves under undue stress before they’ve even entered the ring or cage.

The increase from 10 MMA weight classes to 13 is another step towards safeguarding the future of the ever-growing number of athletes in the sport – by putting the athletes first. And that can only be a good thing.