Statistical case for/against a 165 lb weight class in the UFC:

[acannxr]

Precedent for creating a new division:​

There were 38 fights contested at Bantamweight in 2011.
Flyweight was created in 2012.
The next five years after Flyweight was created, Bantamweight averaged 43.6 fights per year and had the fourth highest number of fights last year with 55 fights; clearly the creation of Flyweight did not dilute Bantamweight in the short or long term.

As such, precedent dictates that a neighboring division must have at least 38 fights annually for a new division to be created.

Precedent for a division to exist:​

From 2013 to 2018, the lowest annual number of fights per division was as follows:

Heavyweight: 28
Light Heavyweight: 28
Middleweight: 43
Welterweight: 69
Lightweight: 67
Featherweight: 46
Bantamweight: 35
Flyweight: 22

Since Flyweight's existence is at risk, precedent dictates that a division must have at least 28 fights annually to be considered sustainable (when you exclude monetary considerations).

Case for the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

Welterweight had 80 fights in 2018.
Lightweight had 72 fights in 2018.
Both divisions accounted for 37.72% of all the men's fights for the UFC in 2018.
Both divisions meet the first precedent for creating a new division by having at least 38 fights annually.
If you equally divided the combined number of fights at Welterweight and Lightweight between three divisions, all three of them would meet the second precedent to exist (28 fights/year) by having 50-51 fights annually.

Case against the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

The limit at Welterweight being raised to 175 lbs would most certainly attract a number of fighters from the Middleweight division, though there would need to be 34.88% decrease in fights per year for that division to be at risk of being unsustainable.

 

[Sonny Qc]

as long as they move 170 to 175, i'm In.

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

No
Gate keepers like rda and Jorge Masvidal will become champs
Not needed

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

No
Gate keepers like rda and Jorge Masvidal will become champs
Not needed

Unlikely, 165 would have guys like Khabib, Wonderboy, Gunner Nelson, Askren ect.

 

[SuperNerd]

No
Gate keepers like rda and Jorge Masvidal will become champs
Not needed

This is why I want the weight classes asap.

The super weight classes are real. UFC will recognize them, when it's good for their brand. They do not care about the merit weight classes

I would hate hearing about how Lil Nog would have been the best 225er of all time, had the sport just recognized his weight class at the time.

But from a business and branding position, I understand UFC. For purity and history of sport, get all the weight classes in UFC now.

 

[USA!USA!]

No
Gate keepers like rda and Jorge Masvidal will become champs
Not needed

You realize RDA was a champ before right?

 

[Reign009]

More weight classes is a good thing. More options for fighters.

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

Unlikely, 165 would have guys like Khabib, Wonderboy, Gunner Nelson, Askren ect.

Khabib is not moving up lol. Gunnar is a gatekeeper Askren has 0 ufc wins Wonderboy is now a gatekeeper aswell
It will be a division filled with guys who aren’t good enough for 170 and 155
It will not fix weight cutting either as 170 pounders who can’t make 155 will push the limits to make 165(Wonderboy confirmed this) I honestly don’t believe it’s necessary

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

You realize RDA was a champ before right?

You do realise he is now a gate keeper right?

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Khabib is not moving up lol. Gunnar is a gatekeeper Askren has 0 ufc wins Wonderboy is now a gatekeeper aswell
It will be a division filled with guys who aren’t good enough for 170 and 155
It will not fix weight cutting either as 170 pounders who can’t make 155 will push the limits to make 165(Wonderboy confirmed this) I honestly don’t believe it’s necessary

LMAO, your definition of gatekeeper is pretty much anyone but the champion. Thanks for letting me know to add you to the ignore list.

 

[cmw43]

Precedent for creating a new division:​

There were 38 fights contested at Bantamweight in 2011.
Flyweight was created in 2012.
The next five years after Flyweight was created, Bantamweight averaged 43.6 fights per year and had the fourth highest number of fights last year with 55 fights; clearly the creation of Flyweight did not dilute Bantamweight in the short or long term.

As such, precedent dictates that a neighboring division must have at least 38 fights annually for a new division to be created.

Precedent for a division to exist:​

From 2013 to 2018, the lowest annual number of fights per division was as follows:

Heavyweight: 28
Light Heavyweight: 28
Middleweight: 43
Welterweight: 69
Lightweight: 67
Featherweight: 46
Bantamweight: 35
Flyweight: 22

Since Flyweight's existence is at risk, precedent dictates that a division must have at least 28 fights annually to be considered sustainable (when you exclude monetary considerations).

Case for the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

Welterweight had 80 fights in 2018.
Lightweight had 72 fights in 2018.
Both divisions accounted for 37.72% of all the men's fights for the UFC in 2018.
Both divisions meet the first precedent for creating a new division by having at least 38 fights annually.
If you equally divided the combined number of fights at Welterweight and Lightweight between three divisions, all three of them would meet the second precedent to exist (28 fights/year) by having 50-51 fights annually.

Case against the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

The limit at Welterweight being raised to 175 lbs would most certainly attract a number of fighters from the Middleweight division, though there would need to be 34.88% decrease in fights per year for that division to be at risk of being unsustainable.

Number of fighters signed to a division is the main factor, not the number of fights.

The number of fighters in the divisions either side of the proposed weight class should be the main factor - that's going to give an idea of how diluted the weight class will get.

Flyweight has also had the lowest number of signed fighters, UFC has always had more signed HW's than flyweights.

The reason for this is statistically there aren't many 5"4 men for flyweight or 240lb in shape men for HW. That's why there wasn't much impact on bantamweight, there's more guys who can make that weight class.

If you make 165 it will take contenders from lightweight and welterweight.

 

[Thenewguysnm1]

LMAO, your definition of gatekeeper is pretty much anyone but the champion. Thanks for letting me know to add you to the ignore list.

Rda is a gate keeper, he is the gate way to the title, Wonderboy is the same now, Gunnar is similar. You’re just mad you can’t refute me
Good bye Khabib but hugger

 

[blaseblah]

Unlikely, 165 would have guys like Khabib, Wonderboy, Gunner Nelson, Askren ect.

Then a gatekeeper like Poirier would be champ at 155. No thanks.

 

[DLX]

as long as they move 170 to 175, i'm In.

Nah, they're gonna lower it to 168.

155
165
168
185
205

 

[John makfresshi]

You do realise he is now a gate keeper right?

How do you have 500 more post than me in 10 weeks. I'm a pretty active member to keep it honest with you(daily post usually, and always a quick heavies, worldwide, and boxing front page scrolled at minimum). Jeeze dude

 

[blaseblah]

I think the number of fighters in the divisions either side of the proposed weight class should be the main factor - that's going to give an idea of how diluted the weight class will get.

Flyweight has also had the lowest number of signed fighters, UFC has always had more signed HW's than flyweights.

The reason for this is statistically there aren't many 5"4 men for flyweight or 240lb in shape men for HW. That's why there wasn't much impact on bantamweight, there's more guys who can make that weight class.

If you make 165 it will take contenders from lightweight and welterweight.

Flyweight only took Benavidez and Mighty Mouse from bantamweight. The majority of the talent came from outside the UFC. Unlike flyweight, there is no 165 division outside the UFC. It would be directly taking from lightweight and welterweight.

 

[USA!USA!]

Rda is a gate keeper, he is the gate way to the title, Wonderboy is the same now, Gunnar is similar. You’re just mad you can’t refute me
Good bye Khabib but hugger

By your standards, you do realize that literally anyone other than a current beltholder that wins a title at a new weight would have been considered a gatekeeper previously, right?

Like, do you understand the words you are typing?

You don't want gate keepers to win the new belt... but everyone is a gatekeeper?

 

[snackgod]

Precedent for creating a new division:​

There were 38 fights contested at Bantamweight in 2011.
Flyweight was created in 2012.
The next five years after Flyweight was created, Bantamweight averaged 43.6 fights per year and had the fourth highest number of fights last year with 55 fights; clearly the creation of Flyweight did not dilute Bantamweight in the short or long term.

As such, precedent dictates that a neighboring division must have at least 38 fights annually for a new division to be created.

Precedent for a division to exist:​

From 2013 to 2018, the lowest annual number of fights per division was as follows:

Heavyweight: 28
Light Heavyweight: 28
Middleweight: 43
Welterweight: 69
Lightweight: 67
Featherweight: 46
Bantamweight: 35
Flyweight: 22

Since Flyweight's existence is at risk, precedent dictates that a division must have at least 28 fights annually to be considered sustainable (when you exclude monetary considerations).

Case for the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

Welterweight had 80 fights in 2018.
Lightweight had 72 fights in 2018.
Both divisions accounted for 37.72% of all the men's fights for the UFC in 2018.
Both divisions meet the first precedent for creating a new division by having at least 38 fights annually.
If you equally divided the combined number of fights at Welterweight and Lightweight between three divisions, all three of them would meet the second precedent to exist (28 fights/year) by having 50-51 fights annually.

Case against the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

The limit at Welterweight being raised to 175 lbs would most certainly attract a number of fighters from the Middleweight division, though there would need to be 34.88% decrease in fights per year for that division to be at risk of being unsustainable.

ALL TALK OF 165 IS FAKE NEWSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

 

[John makfresshi]

Precedent for creating a new division:​

There were 38 fights contested at Bantamweight in 2011.
Flyweight was created in 2012.
The next five years after Flyweight was created, Bantamweight averaged 43.6 fights per year and had the fourth highest number of fights last year with 55 fights; clearly the creation of Flyweight did not dilute Bantamweight in the short or long term.

As such, precedent dictates that a neighboring division must have at least 38 fights annually for a new division to be created.

Precedent for a division to exist:​

From 2013 to 2018, the lowest annual number of fights per division was as follows:

Heavyweight: 28
Light Heavyweight: 28
Middleweight: 43
Welterweight: 69
Lightweight: 67
Featherweight: 46
Bantamweight: 35
Flyweight: 22

Since Flyweight's existence is at risk, precedent dictates that a division must have at least 28 fights annually to be considered sustainable (when you exclude monetary considerations).

Case for the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

Welterweight had 80 fights in 2018.
Lightweight had 72 fights in 2018.
Both divisions accounted for 37.72% of all the men's fights for the UFC in 2018.
Both divisions meet the first precedent for creating a new division by having at least 38 fights annually.
If you equally divided the combined number of fights at Welterweight and Lightweight between three divisions, all three of them would meet the second precedent to exist (28 fights/year) by having 50-51 fights annually.

Case against the creation of a 165 lb weight class:​

The limit at Welterweight being raised to 175 lbs would most certainly attract a number of fighters from the Middleweight division, though there would need to be 34.88% decrease in fights per year for that division to be at risk of being unsustainable.

Quality thread!

 

[FlyingDeathKick]

By your standards, you do realize that literally anyone other than a current beltholder that wins a title at a new weight would have been considered a gatekeeper previously, right?

Like, do you understand the words you are typing?

You don't want gate keepers to win the new belt... but everyone is a gatekeeper?

You're a gatekeeper bro.