Perfect Time To Make 165(Super Lightweight) & Move Welterweight To 175

[JoeRowe]

Islam vs Ilia for the Inaugural Super-Lightweight(165 lbs) Title, winner is the first 3-Division Champion. All the history, stakes, and bad blood would make for a perfect Whitehouse Headliner.

-Morales vs Shavkat for vacant WW(now 175 lbs) title in FEB, Garry/Belal winner gets next.

-Paddy vs Gaethje for vacant 155-lb Title, Arman/Hooker winner gets next.

WME management should force Dana's Hand on this one.

 

[jeff7b9]

That is actually a GREAT solution to an absolute clusterfuck of a situation they have right now.


And really one of the only ways to actually make the ilia vs Islam fight happen in a way that isn't completely disrespectful of the active challengers

 

[Legendary]

Hardcore fans have been saying it for years. The main argument against is that it would weaken the division, but if 155 and 170 were to cut 1/3rd of their division for 165, they would still be bigger than almost every other division. These divisions have gotten log jammed many times dating back to the early 2000s, and that was when they had less fighters.

The jump from 155 to 170 is the biggest size and weight gap in the sport.

 

[SuperNerd]

The athletic commissions already have it figured out.

Weight classUpper weight limit
Strawweight115 lb (52.2 kg)
Flyweight125 lb (56.7 kg)
Bantamweight135 lb (61.2 kg)
Featherweight145 lb (65.8 kg)
Lightweight155 lb (70.3 kg)
Super lightweight165 lb (74.8 kg)
Welterweight170 lb (77.1 kg)
Super welterweight175 lb (79.4 kg)
Middleweight185 lb (83.9 kg)
Super middleweight195 lb (88.5 kg)
Light heavyweight205 lb (93.0 kg)
Cruiserweight225 lb (102.1 kg)
Heavyweight265 lb (120.2 kg)

Ufc and their fans just have to accept it

And don't quote me talking about star power

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

It makes sense.
125
135
145
155
now add 165
then 175 the 185
but to go from 185 to 205 is big, why not add another in there like 195 and move 205 to 210?

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

The athletic commissions already have it figured out.

Weight classUpper weight limit
Strawweight115 lb (52.2 kg)
Flyweight125 lb (56.7 kg)
Bantamweight135 lb (61.2 kg)
Featherweight145 lb (65.8 kg)
Lightweight155 lb (70.3 kg)
Super lightweight165 lb (74.8 kg)
Welterweight170 lb (77.1 kg)
Super welterweight175 lb (79.4 kg)
Middleweight185 lb (83.9 kg)
Super middleweight195 lb (88.5 kg)
Light heavyweight205 lb (93.0 kg)
Cruiserweight225 lb (102.1 kg)
Heavyweight265 lb (120.2 kg)

Ufc and their fans just have to accept it

And don't quote me talking about star power

HW shouldn't have limits, bring in giants at 400 pounds

 

[laleggenda27]

So you want more divisions to further water down an already watered-down product?

No thanks.

 

[shunyata]

Honestly I don't even care about Ilia vs Islam anymore.

Ilia needs to rack up some defenses at 155.

Islam can stay at 170 to defend or make Usman his Stipe fight and retire with his laurels.

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

They can barely consistently book the divisions they have now. How long has 155 had 4 guys in title contention with 3 of them still having nothing signed on officially?

HW, LHW, WBW and lately even a shark tank like LW are either in lineal limbo, log jammed or on life support.

As a fan, yes obviously. Should have happened already.
But as a realist?
I think they need to get a grip on the stalled out/dead divisions they already have

 

[Killhippies]

Been calling this for years. LW is too log jammed and has too many extreme weight cutters. Plus WW has plenty of guys who are undersized, 165 is needed while WW 175 would be much better for the fighters who already have cage weight in the 190s.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Move lightweight to 165 and welter to 175. Boom, problems solved

 

[Slapjit]

HW shouldn't have limits, bring in giants at 400 pounds

Haanji buddy let them bang!

 

[Koya]

I swear you made this thread a couple days ago.

But yeah it was always a good idea, not just today.

 

[Koya]

HW shouldn't have limits, bring in giants at 400 pounds

Nah the HW limit is fine. Who wants to see a couple sumo gas out after 30s.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

might as well go full boxing already. motherfuckers acting like they want to fight each other when they don't, long stalls, holding belts hostage etc., we already 90% there. might as well water down the weak ass divisions even more just to cater to divas...

 

[Koya]

What about

130
140
150
160
170
180
195
210
265

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

Nah the HW limit is fine. Who wants to see a couple sumo gas out after 30s.

Brock Lesnar, Bob Sapp, and the myriad of other giant roided motherfuckers would like a word with you

 

[rjmbrd]

but to go from 185 to 205 is big, why not add another in there like 195 and move 205 to 210?

... lack of roster depth in the upper weight divisions.

170 has double the fighters that 205 has under contract.

Talented athletes the size of 205/265 do not enter MMA as a first option because the pay is atrocious.

 

[Koya]

Brock Lesnar, Bob Sapp, and the myriad of other giant roided motherfuckers would like a word with you

Bob Sapp ? Seriously that's your example. Please take that back.

Brock was fine cutting to 265. It avoided him to blow up to crazy weights.

I'm sorry I've seen Hong Man Choi and Jan The Giant fight back in the day, it's not pretty, it's not entertaining.

Historically the best HWs weighted between 230 and 255, not more not less, with the exception of outliers like Ngannou or Couture. The 265 limit is damn fine

 

[PeterGriffin]

Once a month at least, someone thinks they have this brilliant solution.

The UFC needs less divisions, not more.