So what weight is perfect for being a fighter?

[Grijswaarde]

We had guys like Cormier, Cain and Fedor dominating the HW division while fighting (way) bigger opponents. It shows that size doesn't mean everything. So let's say skill and bodytype are the same, what would be the ideal weight in open weight fighting?

Some things to consider:
- The fighter needs 1 punch KO power. Those happen more at the heavier weight classes.
- The fighter needs to be quick enough to avoid strikes and submissions. The lighter the fighter the faster he is in general
- He needs to be able to nullify heavy grapplers like Brock Lesnar. Cain showed it can be done at a leighter weight.
- There are not that much fighters naturally weighing 265, so it's not a sharkpool like the LW and WW division. Would a 265 lbs Cormier/Cain/Fedor defeat their real life counterparts?

In other words: at what weight should we expect diminishing returns?

 

[Sapp]

Depends on your height/frame.

 

[Toco]

about tree fiddy

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

To be a fighter you can be many different weights but it's recommended to try and be as close to a weight as possible without going over it

 

[Medulla Omoplata]

anywhere between 3 and 7 is fine

 

[Tayski]

The weight at which you don't need to cut weight.

 

[HHJ]

Fedor

 

[Arqueto]

6' 3" 250lbs shredded, basically your typical Sherbro.

 

[LouisBolanos]

about tree fiddy

You joke but I think this might actually be the optimal weight if MMA had access to the entire A level talent pool, i.e. all NFL and NBA athletes.

350 lbs ripped A-level freaks with 8% BF who can move like WWs, bench 600lbs, go 5 rounds in Mexico City and have trained MMA since they were 5. Guys that would ragdoll Bob Sapp physically and have 10x more skill.

But since MMA does not have access to 99% A level athletes the practical number is more like 240lbs, betas who can't make it into NFL or NBA but are just big enough to beat anybody in MMA.

 

[Large Hound 77]

Depends if you like red meat

 

[Individualthoughtpatterns]

No such thing as a perfect weight or height. Depends on so many factors and whether the fighter uses his frame etc to his advantage.
Like the boxer Paul Williams having an enormous reach advantage over everyone but not wanting to fight on the outside.
Or, if a guy like Struve could use his reach effectively and develop a stiff and quick jab and cross we wouldnt be calling guys that size too big.
I think the question is totally silly.

 

[johncola]

265 lbs so they can be as big as allowed without needing to cut weight, shredded. 7 and a half foot tall. 8 and a half foot reach.

"Diminishing returns" comes as you go up in weight but only when you analyse the fighters as a group. As you get up in weight, the pool thins, so the talent level is less. Also, even most of those that are that heavy, are usually only so because they're fat, not because they're extremely muscled or extremely tall/long. For example, the height difference between the average 130 lb fighter and the average 150 lb fighter is significantly greater than the height difference between the average 230 lb fighter and the average 250 lb fighter.

"Diminishing returns" doesn't exist for individual fighters; the bigger you are, the better, as long as you aren't also giving them the disadvantages that the group typically suffers as they go up in weight. Yes, there are disadvantages to being bigger, like speed, higher centre of gravity, more chance of limb getting caught in sub. But it has been proven that the increased reach, strength, leverage, elevation, power are more important than those negatives.

Thus, the fighter is best being as big as possible while not needing to cut weight. 265 lbs obviously. Whatever height and reach is possible for that weight without being unhealthy or a twig; I speculated the numbers above.

 

[thobra]

I would think about 300- 350 lbs is the perfect weight. We all saw guys like Sapp and Lesnar with limited training and experience come and dominate guys that had trained their whole life. Imagine these guys training their whole life. They would be nearly unbeatable, like Semmy in kickboxing.

The bigger, the better it seems. Just too bad there are only a handful guys that are this big and likes to fight.

 

[Koro]

I'm thinking Cain/Fedor body type. 6'+ but not much taller, strong but not shredded, around 110 kg. Heavier than that means slower but not much stronger.
Igor is a mini version.
Now, if you're talking professionally, IMHO taller with longer reach and skinny legs is better because of weight cutting. Think Bones and Anderson.

 

[MMAProfessional]

Usually good to be about the same size. HW has more wiggle room because once you get that weight you can be a lot faster and have better cardio.

 

[EVIL WAR GOD]

7' 2" 435lbs

 

[Dirge]

How is Cain a smaller fighter? He has fought around the 245 mark his entire career

Stipe, arlovski, big nog, werdum etc all fight in that range . Even overeem has moved down to that weight range

Other than fat slobs like Lewis, hunt and Nelson there are truly only a couple of guys that are bigger that have been successful

 

[Jorge Luis Borges]

I would think about 300- 350 lbs is the perfect weight. We all saw guys like Sapp and Lesnar with limited training and experience come and dominate guys that had trained their whole life. Imagine these guys training their whole life. They would be nearly unbeatable, like Semmy in kickboxing.

The bigger, the better it seems. Just too bad there are only a handful guys that are this big and likes to fight.

I tend to agree. Weight classes exist to protect smaller fighters, not to protect larger fighters. If there is a cut off, it is probably right around 300 lbs or so, maybe a bit more. Even the best athletes who are bigger than that start having serious mobility issues.

 

[MCS]

For open-weight the most successful ones have been from 220 to 245 (Fedor, Cro Cop, Nog, JDS, Stipe, DC, Cain, Randy and even AA and Mir when in peak form). Usually if they're short then about 230.

A good cutoff point for KO power is around 200 pounds, which means guys weighing 265 are often at a speed disadvantage while going against guys who have KO power themselves.

But big guys who've done well tend to be top control and clinch fighters like Kerr, Brock, Rothwell and Bigfoot. Like said if you can nullify that aspect of their game speedy punches take over.

 

[george14]

I don't think it exists due to the fact that everyone has a different frame.