135 and below should be WMMA only

[Not A Real Fan]

The male flyweight division is a failure. Most blame DJ but the reality is that the division itself is a turnoff no matter who the champ is. If it was Ian McCall, Joe Benavides, fans will still be leaving in droves if they were the main event. I so want Cejudo to win so I can be proven right. 135 is not much better.

The issue is that a 125-135 pound man is as much a freakshow as a 500 pound man. It's jarring to the senses to encounter either extreme. I believe most fans just can't get over this.

In contrast, women who range from 105 to 135 pounds are closer to the norm for women.

DJ, TJ Dillashaw, etc., look like children or midgets. Whereas Miesha Tate looks like a grown woman. So does Holly Holm. So does Ronda.

Fans don't dislike smaller fighters as much as they dislike fighters who are outside-the-norm in size for their gender. Hence why 135 and below should be reserved for women only.

 

[BigMuffler]

Cruz appears to be a grown man...

 

[gspfedkobe24]

TS gets it

 

[Exbawks]

TS is living up to his name

 

[TheProphetAxel]

Barao, Rivera, Caceres and McDonald are all legitimate BW who are over 5'7 and weigh between 160-170 out of competition. Don't act like BW hasn't had some very exciting fights and isnt full of killers.

 

[Not A Real Fan]

TS is living up to his name

It's people like you that inspired my name. Every other day, there are accusations here of how one is not a real fan for whatever reason. But the reality is that most fans aren't into tiny fighters.

And then it hit me. It's not so much their size. It's their gender. If they deviate from what is the norm of their gender in terms of weight, fans turn away.

A 200 pound woman like Gabi Garcia or a 125 manlet are not going to get over with fans long term. Freakshow attraction? Sure. Long term interest. Nope.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

I'm actually with TS on this one. I'd scrap the divisions under 145 but I'd also have weigh ins right before the fight begins. Fighter walks out, steps on the scale, gets cleared and walks into the cage. But I'm not in control. I'd also add at 225 division too. Call it LHW and call 205 Cruiser weight.

 

[1stDAN]

Renan Barao would knock most "man sized" men out with a single punch or kick.

I think Thomas Almeida is among the most exciting guys in the UFC.

I do however tend to fall asleep during MM fights. And I do buy his PPV's (as rare as they are).

I love pretty much any fight regardless of weight.

What I will agree to is that a poor fight is exacerbated in the lower weight classes. Even two gassed hw's have the potential to end the fight at any moment. ie: ManBearPig v. Kevin Jordan. Where as two little guys boxercising has very little finish potential.

 

[wookie brawl]

TS likes chubby boys

 

[Crimson Glory]

Your name suits you perfectly TS.

 

[Exbawks]

It's people like you that inspired my name. Every other day, there are accusations here of how one is not a real fan for whatever reason. But the reality is that most fans aren't into tiny fighters.

And then it hit me. It's not so much their size. It's their gender. If they deviate from what is the norm of their gender in terms of weight, fans turn away.

A 200 pound woman like Gabi Garcia or a 125 manlet are not going to get over with fans long term. Freakshow attraction? Sure. Long term interest. Nope.

People like me that enjoy a good fight, regardless of the size of the fighters?

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

"The world should revolve around my bigoted and ignorant viewpoints!"

 

[OliverAtom]

Is that why people don't watch NBA and NFL? Because these guys are all outside the norm size wise? Oh wait. They are all more popular than the UFC. Fact is people who watch NBA watch it because they love basketball, it has nothing to do with who is what height. Same goes for NFL. Any MMA fan who only watches due to the fighter's size is..well.. not a real fan.

 

[TheRassler]

I enjoyed watching 125 and 135 pounders fight at 155 pounds, those fights were more interesting.


wonder if it's too late to go back to that format?

 

[Jesus X]

Is that why people don't watch NBA and NFL? Because these guys are all outside the norm size wise? Oh wait. They are all more popular than the UFC. Fact is people who watch NBA watch it because they love basketball, it has nothing to do with who is what height. Same goes for NFL. Any MMA fan who only watches due to the fighter's size is..well.. not a real fan.

baseball players are all larger than the gender norm too.

 

[Jesus X]

wec had some of the best fights ever from 135-155

 

[camelfarmer1]

Don't forget that a 135 fight actually has fighters who are 150 or more on fight night. I'm about 165 so I guess I'd be a 145er... And I'm not a tiny guy. Most 190lb guys aren't really 190lb guys they're just 170lb guys with 20lb of fat they could lose.

 

[Senkoy]

I wish they got rid of 125 so those guys move up and make 135 bearable.

 

[Baba Ghanoush]

I'd also add at 225 division too. Call it LHW and call 205 Cruiser weight.

Brilliant idea! Let's take one of the most shallow and aged divisions in MMA and cut it in half.

 

[EGarrett]

Is that why people don't watch NBA and NFL? Because these guys are all outside the norm size wise? Oh wait. They are all more popular than the UFC. Fact is people who watch NBA watch it because they love basketball, it has nothing to do with who is what height. Same goes for NFL. Any MMA fan who only watches due to the fighter's size is..well.. not a real fan.

You're right about the NBA and NFL. The issue with smaller fighter isn't exactly that they're outside the norm, it's about them not appearing dominant. Our caveman brains equate size with dominance, so we have less interest in seeing smaller people fight than people who may be the strongest in the village.

If there are other factors of course, the fights can still be interesting. But all other things being equal, the less-physically impressive fighters will be less interesting.