Aside from “styles make matches,” there is no more ubiquitous phrase in the world of MMA than “there are weight classes for a reason.” I am not sure that I really understand the significance of weight classes. The weight classes only apply at weigh-ins, not when the matches actually take place, and it seems that more and more fighters are moving into and out of different classes. So, to help understand how why weight classes matter at the professional level, I wonder: How would someone like top-ranked featherweight Ilia Topuria, just as an example, weighing in at 145, do against a lightweight weighing in at 155? Topuria likely can’t beat the top-ranked lightweight in that admittedly artificial scenario. But would he be expected to beat the 50th-ranked lightweight who weighs in at 155? What about the 20th-ranked lightweight? In other words, where would the top-ranked featherweight, weighing in as a featherweight, rank among lightweights? (Using Topuria and featherweights/lightweights as an example)
Curious about Weight Classes
- Thread starter Foxbat
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Not sure if you’ve seen them or not, but you need to see the Islam vs. Volk fights as that will answer your question as to how a top ranked FW would do against a top ranked LW.
Topuria competed at LW and did fairly well, however he’s better suited for FW. The best FWs in the world would do well at LW, however they will eventually run into issues with fighters who will have a size advantage on them.
Weight classes are necessary. If there were no weight classes it would all be open weight fights. The events would never get sanctioned by most athletic commissions and the sport would be dominated by heavyweights and some light heavyweights.
There’s been open weight fights in the past, however it’s usually all heavyweights and light heavyweights competing against each other. PRIDE had many open weight fights and tournaments. I would recommend you watch some of those if you haven’t. Some of the greatest fighters ever competed in them.
Topuria competed at LW and did fairly well, however he’s better suited for FW. The best FWs in the world would do well at LW, however they will eventually run into issues with fighters who will have a size advantage on them.
Weight classes are necessary. If there were no weight classes it would all be open weight fights. The events would never get sanctioned by most athletic commissions and the sport would be dominated by heavyweights and some light heavyweights.
There’s been open weight fights in the past, however it’s usually all heavyweights and light heavyweights competing against each other. PRIDE had many open weight fights and tournaments. I would recommend you watch some of those if you haven’t. Some of the greatest fighters ever competed in them.
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No weight classes back to fun circus fights!!!! Let them do steroids too!!
Weight classes are important but the questions are about safe weight cutting.
Not even the GOAT Mighty Mouse would fight beyond Bantam, and he ruled Fly Weight. It is not just reach, or weight when they are on top of you... "size matters" she said.
Weight classes are important but the questions are about safe weight cutting.
Not even the GOAT Mighty Mouse would fight beyond Bantam, and he ruled Fly Weight. It is not just reach, or weight when they are on top of you... "size matters" she said.
Thanks for your reply. Is this a reasonable rule of thumb: A dominant champion (like Volk) would likely rank among the top five in the next-higher division; a less dominant champion (e.g., Figueiredo or O'Malley) would likely rank among the top ten? Obviously there would be exceptions; just looking for a general rule of thumb that would cover most cases.
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ZERO Question that those mid 2000's Pride OW / Grand Prix tourneys had some of the best fighters ever assembled. TRUE Warriors That Fought Anyone on the planet Multiple Times In One Night.
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Interesting question.
I'd say it's more likely between the folks who move up a weight class, but where it's mostly a 10 lb. gap -- flyweight through lightweight.
Now when it's lightweight through heavyweight, then that would be more problematic.
GSP moving up to middleweight is the best example of this. He pretty much dominated everyone in the division (except for Hendricks), however, that wasn't the case with Bisping. I haven't watched the fight since it happened, but I recall him struggling with Bisping even though he got the win. He also looked much smaller against Bisping. I recall some people arguing he only moved because Bisping was a favorable opponent for him compared to the other fighters in the division and that's possible. If Bisping looked big against him, imagine someone like Yoel.
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Google "Minowaman" and marvel at the greatest combatant in the history of combating. On this planet or any other
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Well, he did fight bantamweight...and fought for the title.
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Why is this one the best example? If anything, LW has countless examples of smaller fighters beating bigger ones. Frankie Edgar was the champion there lol.
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Because it’s the most recent example I could think of.
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haha well at least you're honest. Though Holloway vs Gaethje happened a bit more recently and most people thought Holloway would lose because of his size.
