UFC fighters are supposed to be the toughest guys in the world, but NBA doesn't have weight class...

[Cooliox]

Ok, before you impulsively chase me out the building, hear me out...


Yes, this is done for fighters' safety, but that also is precisely the point.

There is no weight or size protection for athletes in pro sports.

Can you imagine if the NBA starts an NBA league where you HAVE to be under 6 feet tall, in order to play?

Then the MVP of that league, we start debating about how he's the GOAT because he won 7 years in a row... and say that he's better than Durant, or Giannis?

That's how it sounds to me when we say that guys say that Khabib is GOAT, or even say that Conor double champ is GOAT-worthy.

Yes, sure, totally different sport... I get it. Combat sports have had weight-classes forever.

But, that's just so that THE SMALLER GUYS CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

This is why many say that Fedor is the GOAT. Fedor fought everyone and everybody. He reigned supreme for 10 years. He's not bigger than the likes of Luke Rockhold, and definitely smaller than many of the LHWs in the UFC today... yet Fedor fought everyone, and when I say everyone- there was no 265 weight limit protection either.

Don't forget, the UFC's HW division isn't the biggest division that's sanctioned by the Athletic Commissions.
There's a SUPER HW for 265+

Guys like Brock and Bigfoot had to cut mad amounts of mass to be able to fight.


Anyways.
Tl, Dr - You can't be the 'best fighter' if you're cutting weight and hiding behind a weight limit barrier.
Sure, you can be the "best in your division". That's certain. Or, "most successful fighter"... since that's comparatively speaking.

In the end, the guy who isn't cutting weight, and is fighting anyone and everyone... is the REAL toughest guy in the world

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Ok, before you impulsively chase me out the building, here me out...


Yes, this is done for fighters' safety, but that also is precisely the point.

There is no weight or size protection for athletes in pro sports.

Can you imagine if the NBA starts an NBA league where you HAVE to be under 6 feet tall, in order to play?

Then the MVP of that league, we start debating about how he's the GOAT because he won 7 years in a row... and say that he's better than Durant, or Giannis?

That's how it sounds to me when we say that guys say that Khabib is GOAT, or even say that Conor double champ is GOAT-worthy.

Yes, sure, totally different sport... I get it. Combat sports have had weight-classes forever.

But, that's just so that THE SMALLER GUYS CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

This is why many say that Fedor is the GOAT. Fedor fought everyone and everybody. He reigned supreme for 10 years. He's not bigger than the likes of Luke Rockhold, and definitely smaller than many of the LHWs in the UFC today... yet Fedor fought everyone, and when I say everyone- there was no 265 weight limit protection either.

Don't forget, the UFC's HW division isn't the biggest division that's sanctioned by the Athletic Commissions.
There's a SUPER HW for 265+

Guys like Brock and Bigfoot had to cut mad amounts of mass to be able to fight.


Anyways.
Tl, Dr - You can't be the 'best fighter' if you're cutting weight and hiding behind a weight limit barrier.
Sure, you can be the "best in your division". That's certain. Or, "most successful fighter"... since that's comparatively speaking.

In the end, the guy who isn't cutting weight, and is fighting anyone and everyone... is the REAL toughest guy in the world

It’s not about giving them a chance it’s about expanding the sport. Without weight classes you’d have one title, and 10 guys who are realistically competitive for the belt. That sounds pretty boring to me.

 

[Iroh]

First off, it's Greatest Of All Time, not toughest or even best. However, how you define greatness is subjective, but many would include things like skill and quality of competition which aren't really tied to the size of a fighter.

 

[El Fernas]

TL;DR

PS: Wrong, every sanctioned combat sport has divisions, and its not even height what matters, ball games do not, 2/10 troll job.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

The good ole pound for pound talk where we pretend if smaller people kept all their attributes and proportions but just made them bigger they'd beat the heavier guys. Let's not even take into account if MM or Cejudo or TJ or even Khabib was a 6'2 225 pound person they'd be completely different fighters. You think MM or Cruz would be able to keep up with their cardio, speed and pace if they were. You think if Izzy was 5'10 and built like a fire hydrant he'd fight the same as he does being a taller, longer fighter? Hell no.

Personally I'd like to not get rid of weight class but have a few open weight fights and maybe even a Pride style open weight tournament. We could see a Wonderboy vs Anthony Smith or a Beast vs Costa fight.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Seems pretty strawman. Almost everyone who has referred to a GOAT of MMA has done so with the implication of "pound for pound GOAT."

So pretty much every point made there can go straight in the bin.

 

[theleerygoose]

Which is more impressive a 230lb guy beating another 230lb guy who has mediocre skills, or a 170lb guy beating another 170lb guy who has phenomenal skills?

This is why the phrase pound for pound exists. No one is saying the 170lb guy is the baddest man on the planet, he’s just the best performer relative to his body weight…

 

[Dirty Frank]

I've never read something so brilliant and so idiotic at the same time.
Don't know what to say, Shermano

 

[Col Kurtz]

The heavyweight is actually one of the most shallow divisions. LH and WH are the most competitives and the most difficult to preveil 'cause of the numbers of atletic guys. The heavies are most umpredictible 'cause they are big and hit hard. Besides, the HW champ is the badest man of the planet. All those factors could be weighted, but at the end of the day it's a very subjective matter.

 

[HHJ]

As soon as you compare normal bullshit sports with fighting,any argument you make crumbles

 

[HindustaniKush]

Ok, before you impulsively chase me out the building, here me out...


Yes, this is done for fighters' safety, but that also is precisely the point.

There is no weight or size protection for athletes in pro sports.

Can you imagine if the NBA starts an NBA league where you HAVE to be under 6 feet tall, in order to play?

Then the MVP of that league, we start debating about how he's the GOAT because he won 7 years in a row... and say that he's better than Durant, or Giannis?

That's how it sounds to me when we say that guys say that Khabib is GOAT, or even say that Conor double champ is GOAT-worthy.

Yes, sure, totally different sport... I get it. Combat sports have had weight-classes forever.

But, that's just so that THE SMALLER GUYS CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

This is why many say that Fedor is the GOAT. Fedor fought everyone and everybody. He reigned supreme for 10 years. He's not bigger than the likes of Luke Rockhold, and definitely smaller than many of the LHWs in the UFC today... yet Fedor fought everyone, and when I say everyone- there was no 265 weight limit protection either.

Don't forget, the UFC's HW division isn't the biggest division that's sanctioned by the Athletic Commissions.
There's a SUPER HW for 265+

Guys like Brock and Bigfoot had to cut mad amounts of mass to be able to fight.


Anyways.
Tl, Dr - You can't be the 'best fighter' if you're cutting weight and hiding behind a weight limit barrier.
Sure, you can be the "best in your division". That's certain. Or, "most successful fighter"... since that's comparatively speaking.

In the end, the guy who isn't cutting weight, and is fighting anyone and everyone... is the REAL toughest guy in the world

I love Fedor but he was not a proper HW he is the p4p GOAT but size needs to be mentioned. If he was 6"5, 265lbs and had the same skill he would of been also scary and not lost those fights

A real sized HW wouldnt be KO by a 200lb Hendo or a 220lb Bader

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

It’s not about giving them a chance it’s about expanding the sport. Without weight classes you’d have one title, and 10 guys who a realistically competitive for the belt. That sounds pretty boring to me.

Thats very true and a really good point.. you would lose 85% of the roster.

 

[HHJ]

I love Fedor but he was not a proper HW

A real sized HW wouldnt be KO by a 200lb Hendo or a 220lb Bader

Hush lad

Reality dictates Fedor is the greatest HW of all time,certainly of his age. You can go acccthhuuually all you want,doesnt change history., Fedor and Mirko probably scoff at the idea of going down to LHW as being a big pussy.

Fedor had power in his hands that could stop much bigger men. So does Henderson. See? thats not so hard.

 

[HindustaniKush]

Hush lad

Reality dictates Fedor is the greatest HW of all time,certainly of his age. You can go acccthhuuually all you want,doesnt change history., Fedor and Mirko probably scoff at the idea of going down to LHW as being a big pussy.

Fedor had power in his hands that could stop much bigger men. So does Henderson. See? thats not so hard.

I know he is but he was never the truly baddest man ever. Due to his small size. The baddest man ever isnt supposed to lose to a man much smaller than him let alone be ragdolled

Ngannou
Stipe
Actual big men arent going to be KO by a MW like Hendo

 

[HHJ]

I know he is but he was never the truly baddest man ever. Due to his small size

Ngannou
Stipe
Actual big men arent going to be KO by a MW like Hendo

If Krazy Horse could knock out Wanderlei,anything can happen. Your made up rules are weak,old man!

 

[Tito Tapped]

By your logic an NBA team should just send out a team of all 7'0 centers and they'd be unstoppable.

 

[HindustaniKush]

If Krazy Horse could knock out Wanderlei,anything can happen. Your made up rules are weak,old man!

The difference in size wasent that big. So MM or Faber could KO Ngannou?

 

[BrockLesnarsTurtleBack]

There are more beta males than alpha males so being the best beta is more impressive than being the dominant alpha male.

You can tell which ones defend the small man weight divisions lmao. Excluding the biggest genetic freaks and naturally most talented fighters doesn't make it more competitive. And yes, being big and strong and powerful is talent In fighting just as much if not more than a smaller guy being lightning fast and coordinated.

 

[Cooliox]

It’s not about giving them a chance it’s about expanding the sport. Without weight classes you’d have one title, and 10 guys who are realistically competitive for the belt. That sounds pretty boring to me.

Like in every sport, there are lower divisions... just not based on physical restrictions.


PS - PRIDE was pretty fun, and they had a bunch of open-weight fights and tournaments.

 

[HHJ]

The difference in size wasent that big. So MM or Faber could KO Ngannou?

What im saying is a guy like Hendo has power to knock out men bigger than him (Fedor)

Just like Fedor could knock out men bigger than himself too. Its not rocket science,pal