Restructuring weight classes: consistency.

[acannxr]

These weight classes would be ideal under the context of one hour weigh-ins and hydration tests being implemented (i.e. no weight cutting).

I think the UWW/IOC's logic behind having a weight limit for wrestling's heaviest weight class makes sense and is applicable to MMA. Furthermore, I doubt a lean athlete could attain a heavier weight naturally.

The wrestling weight classes at the Olympics ranges from 57-130 kg (126-287 lbs), but I don't believe there is enough depth at the moment for the UFC to promote a 59 kg (130 lb) weight class. Additionally, there are only six weight classes for wrestling at the Olympics; which also makes for good business in the UFC as two title defenses per year equals one title defense per month.

The names of the weight classes are derived from boxing.

 

[Merman]

Seems ok either way. I'm always up for no limit HW.

 

[Chad W]

Seems ok either way. I'm always up for no limit HW.

True. I've never understood why HW just isn't unlimited already. if a fighter wants to come in at 300 lbs then just let him take that risk

 

[superpunch]

HW is so stacked, it totally needs to be split in half at 220 lbs. I also think knowing who the best fighter in the world is sucks. I'd rather have a 220 lbs division so no one knows.

 

[Clear Winner]

That super heavyweight division would be super trash

 

[acannxr]

HW is so stacked, it totally needs to be split in half at 220 lbs. I also think knowing who the best fighter in the world is sucks. I'd rather have a 220 lbs division so no one knows.

A 100 kg/220 lb division would be where current Light Heavyweights (205 lbs) compete at, as their cage weight is between 215-225 lbs. Although fighters like Cormier would have to compete at Heavyweight as he cuts from 235-236 lbs.

 

[superpunch]

I'd cut women's 145, women's 125, men's 125, and men's 205

I'd open up a men's 195. Some 185ers can move up and the smaller 205ers can move down. It'd be a stacked and exciting weight class.

The bigger 205ers can either lose some body mass or move up to HW. So it would do 3 things:

1) Rejuvenate the dead 205 division at 195 lbs
2) Rejuvenate the dead HW division
3) Allow us to actually know who the best fighter in the world is versus arguing whether it's Jon Jones/ DC or Stipe

 

[superpunch]

A 100 kg/220 lb division would be where current Light Heavyweights (205 lbs) compete at, as their cage weight is between 215-225 lbs. Although fighters like Cormier would have to compete at Heavyweight as he cuts from 235-236 lbs.

The current LHWs would cut to 198 lbs, and half the HW division would cut to 220..

 

[acannxr]

The current LHWs would cut to 198 lbs, and half the HW division would cut to 220..

You must not have read the first sentence of my post:

These weight classes would be ideal under the context of one hour weigh-ins and hydration tests being implemented.

i.e. No weight cutting.

I edited the original post to avoid future confusion.

 

[acannxr]

Seems ok either way. I'm always up for no limit HW.

True. I've never understood why HW just isn't unlimited already. if a fighter wants to come in at 300 lbs then just let him take that risk

That super heavyweight division would be super trash

Here's a well written article on wrestling weight classes, with some context on the weight limit for heavyweight wrestlers:
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/14234

 

[ThePatriot]

Move 125 as a whole, and all women's non title fights to Invicta, and rebrand

Stop putting shit fights on the main and good fights on prelims and fight pass, stack the main

Go back to spike

 

[Clear Winner]

Here's a well written article on wrestling weight classes, with some context on the weight limit for heavyweight wrestlers:
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/14234

Thanks for posting, but I'm not gonna read all of that.

I'd be up for keeping it how it is, but adding a 230 and removing the upper limit from HW or pushing it to 285. Not too many elite athletes that can't make 285.

 

[acannxr]

Move 125 as a whole, and all women's non title fights to Invicta, and rebrand

Stop putting shit fights on the main and good fights on prelims and fight pass, stack the main

Go back to spike

The current 125 lb fighters cut from 140-145 lbs; in my suggested weight classes they would compete at the 66 kg/145 lb weight class where the smaller sized current 135 lb fighters would also compete, essentially merging the two divisions.

Thanks for posting, but I'm not gonna read all of that.

I'd be up for keeping it how it is, but adding a 230 and removing the upper limit from HW or pushing it to 285. Not too many elite athletes that can't make 285.

Here's one of several snippets from the article that discusses the heavyweights of wrestling:

This was borne out in 2010, when the NCAA did something unusual at the time: it made available the actual initial weigh-in weights for the 33 wrestlers competing in the 285-pound weight class. The NCAA reported that the actual weights ranged from 223.6 pounds for Nathan Everhart of Indiana University, all the way up to 270.4 pounds for Christian Brantley of University of Northern Iowa. That's a nearly 48-pound differential between Everhart and Brantley. (Three other wrestlers weighed in within two pounds of Brantley ... yet all weighed 15 pounds or less than the top limit of 285.)

While the range between lightest and heftiest of the heavyweights at the 2010 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships was nearly 50 pounds, the difference in weight between the two heavyweight finalists in 2010 was hardly worth noting. According to the NCAA, the 2010 heavyweight champ, David Zabriskie of Iowa State, tipped the scales at 228.2 pounds, while his finals rival, Oklahoma State's Jared Rosholt, weighed in at 229.8... a mere 1 1/2-pound differential. So, in this case, the two Big 12 big men vying for the 2010 heavyweight crown were very evenly matched, weight-wise. And ... 55 pounds lighter than the top limit.

 

[Clear Winner]

The current 125 lb fighters cut from 140-145 lbs; in my suggested weight classes they would compete at the 66 kg/145 lb weight class where the smaller sized current 135 lb fighters would also compete, essentially merging the two divisions.


Here's one of several snippets from the article that discusses the heavyweights of wrestling:

So, my point of super heavy not being worth it is true?

 

[Bend NvR Break]

105 and 117 men's divisions?

Please God no.

We're trying to push guys up in weight.

 

[ThePatriot]

The current 125 lb fighters cut from 140-145 lbs; in my suggested weight classes they would compete at the 66 kg/145 lb weight class where the smaller sized current 135 lb fighters would also compete, essentially merging the two divisions.


Here's one of several snippets from the article that discusses the heavyweights of wrestling:

I'd be in favor of merging the too 8f it means dj goes away

 

[ccm22]

I doubt anyone wants to be known as the Super Cruiserweight champ so you can do away with that division.

 

[markys00]

U know that as people get smaller the weight gap makes more of a difference?

That's why there is a smaller weight gap in the lighter weights

 

[acannxr]

So, my point of super heavy not being worth it is true?

Yes.

105 and 117 men's divisions?

Please God no.

We're trying to push guys up in weight.

Note that I didn't recommend that they be promoted in the UFC, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't exist. Smaller weight classes get used all the time in Asian countries.

I'd be in favor of merging the too 8f it means dj goes away

Johnson would still compete.

I doubt anyone wants to be known as the Super Cruiserweight champ so you can do away with that division.

That's a terribly weak argument to do away with a division.

U know that as people get smaller the weight gap makes more of a difference?

That's why there is a smaller weight gap in the lighter weights

Percentage wise, my suggested weight classes have less of a difference than the wrestling weight classes in the Olympics; there's a 22 lb difference between Super Cruiserweight and Cruiserweight, but percentage-wise it's 10%, there's a 12 lb difference between Bantamweight and Strawweight, but percentage-wise it's also 10%. In terms of pounds, as the weight classes get lighter the difference becomes less, but percentage-wise it's consistent throughout.

Modelling weight classes after boxing is a poor template due to MMA having grappling. Furthermore, there's not enough depth to justify more divisions with a smaller percentage difference.

 

[cooks1]

Awful