How was 265 lbs decided as the limit for HW in MMA/UFC?

[Söze Aldo]

Thinking of the 12-6 elbow rule finally getting repealed and it originally coming about due to a myth about deadly karate strikes. It got me thinking if the decision to limit HW to 265 lbs had anything to do with a silly misnomer back in the early days of MMA?

Boxing has no HW limit and it's a very random weight to pick too, why 265 lbs exactly? 285 lbs would make more sense as that's the limit in collegiate wrestling.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

It was introduced so us 6'5 340 lb Sherdoggers wouldn't be able to compete and dominate.

 

[Contempt]

They weighed yo mamma?

 

[Istryker]

Hw shouldn't be capped

 

[Gabe]

So we don’t see two massive roided meatheads or potential Chris Barnetts but bigger.

 

[filthybliss]

there shouldn't be a weight limit at HW, it is already a circus

 

[RoyJonesJr]

 

[Carrotman23]

So we don’t see two massive roided meatheads or potential Chris Barnetts but bigger.

Roided Meatheads make great HW brawlers though, and people love Chris Barnett.

That being said, historically "super HW's" (above 265 Ibs or so) have been pretty mediocre. So I don't know why 265 Ibs is agreed upon by commissions and most orgs but it doesn't bring down the quality of HW's in terms of having the best in the sport.

I mean the answer to your question OP might be as simple as thinking there needs to be a weight limit like all the other divisions for HW to be a legitimate weight class.

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Do you wanna see a repeat of Kimbo slice vs Dada 5000?

 

[AmonTobin]

Not sure, but I can't imagine anything over 265lb moving well in an mma match.

 

[Corrado Soprano]

Yeah it’s kind of dumb. Heavyweight should be any weight 205+. Like come on, I’ve slept with women larger than 265lbs.

 

[Kenny Powerth]

I played football with lots of guys who would weighed more than 265 pounds where also in good shape. It's doable. Im simply amazed at the fatasses with zero gas tanks that the ufc brings in

 

[IDGETKTFO]

Yeah it’s kind of dumb. Heavyweight should be any weight 205+. Like come on, I’ve slept with women larger than 265lbs.

 

[Söze Aldo]

Roided Meatheads make great HW brawlers though, and people love Chris Barnett.

That being said, historically "super HW's" (above 265 Ibs or so) have been pretty mediocre. So I don't know why 265 Ibs is agreed upon by commissions and most orgs but it doesn't bring down the quality of HW's in terms of having the best in the sport.

I mean the answer to your question OP might be as simple as thinking there needs to be a weight limit like all the other divisions for HW to be a legitimate weight class.

Yeah, I get their sentiment was to make MMA look professional by having a limit at every weight class, I'm just legitimately curious how and who decided on that limit being specifically 265 lbs. I'd love to know what their deducing was that that was the magic number to cap the class at.

 

[AmonTobin]

I'd support a no cap HW or Super HW division but with some kind of cardio standard. Guys have to be able to run for 15min to qualify. A strict No Slob policy.

 

[JBJ was here]

My guess is that back in the day someone was stuck with a metric scale that maxed out at 120 kg, or, rounded to the nearest pound, 265 pounds.

 

[Carrotman23]

I'd support a no cap HW or Super HW division but with some kind of cardio standard. Guys have to be able to run for 15min to qualify. A strict No Slob policy.

That would cut half the HW roster

Spoiler

 

[El Fernas]

They saw a picture of Derrick Lewis, or the fat guy from UFC 1.

 

[markantony20]

Hw shouldn't be capped

In theory this is good.

But in reality it just means a bunch of bloated LHWs will be filling the roster more than usual.

And even in boxing most of the best heavyweights have been under the 265ish mark with a few notable exceptions of course.

 

[markantony20]

In theory this is good.

But in reality it just means a bunch of bloated LHWs will be filling the roster more than usual.

And even in boxing most of the best heavyweights have been under the 265ish mark with a few notable exceptions of course.

Just to add onto that going and looking at the prime old K-1 Grand Prix champions with the notable exception of Semmy all the other champions have come under 265lbs(at least according to Wikipedia so idk how reliable that is.)

And those guys were ripped and athletic as hell.