Weight classes are no longer necessary -- there's a better way

johncola

Banned
Banned
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
9,310
Reaction score
547
DISCLAIMER: This thread is not about getting rid of weight classes and having all fights be openweight, where anyone can fight anyone, like in the early days.

Click spoiler for full post or see TLDR below:

This is the simplest and easiest way to get rid of weight cutting. We don't need weight classes anymore. They're an outdated idea. Khabib/Max should have happened last weekend, and it's ridiculous that it didn't. Neither Khabib nor Max shoulda been destroying their bodies in the first place; it's all so unnecessary.

Fighters can just be weighed at random times throughout the year. The UFC has a finite (~600) number of fighters on the roster. That's manageable -- instituting and running the USADA drug testing program was/is exponentially more expensive than simply weighing fighters a few times per year. USADA could even be the ones who weigh the fighters.

These weigh-ins would be used to develop a historical record of fighter weights. These weights, along with height and reach stats, would be used for matchmaking. There'd be some sort of formula used to determine what fights can be made, containing all of these size properties. It'd be in fighters' best interests to stay in shape year-round, to create low weight records. This would be a secondary benefit of the new system.

An obvious core benefit of this new system is that matchmaking will have been freed up tremendously. No more divisions, preventing potentially great fights.

NEW RANKING AND TITLE SYSTEM

Yet another benefit of the new system would be the improvement of the existing "game of rankings" that people obsess over.

Titles would still exist, but they wouldn't be attached to any particular weight or size. If at any point two champions exist close enough in size to fight, then there'd be an option to unify the titles if it's deemed necessary. If at any point NO champions exist around a particular size, while there's a clear world class fighter, then that fighter can fight for a new title. There'd be no more need for "interim champions", as champions aren't attached to any particular division. Everyone is either a champion, or in 99% of fighters' cases, not a champion.

Rankings could be replaced by all fighters being "graded", e.g. "entry level, mid level, contender" or "grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". This would be far superior to rankings anyway, as it'd prevent fighters from ducking lower ranked opponents. "Mid level" fighters could dominate other "mid level" fighters, and thus earn a "contender" ranking, despite other "contender" fighters refusing to fight them and any other "mid level" fighters. This grading system would have yet another benefit, in that it'd stop certain fans and media members, i.e. Luke Thomas and Jeff Wagenheim, from being so confused about what rankings are for.

In this system, all fighters exist within 1 pool, rather than 8 different pools as they are currently. Within that pool, each fighter would have their grade. So, Overeem would be graded "contender", as would Cejudo. Both would be in the same pool, despite the fact that they can never fight each other. On a website or on TV graphics, the pool could then be filtered by specific criteria, to only display fighters of a certain height, reach, and/or weight, as well as grade. Or it could be filtered by a chosen fighter, showing a result-set containing that fighter alongside all other fighters they're eligible to fight.

TLDR: Weight classes are no longer necessary. Weigh fighters randomly multiple times throughout the year instead to develop historical weight records. This would improve matchmaking and remove weight cutting. A new ranking and title system could be implemented despite the lack of divisions. The current system is outdated, and I think this is the way forward. Don't be afraid of change.
 
Tell them that.

Nothing will change.
It's less likely to change with that attitude. Most of the time, things don't change. But occasionally, they do...

The UFC got sanctioned in 2000 by New Jersey
New rules like the "downed opponent" rule and the "eye poke" rule were adopted in 2016
Mazzagatti and Yamasaki no longer work UFC events
Andy Foster has been trying things in California, such as the new weigh-in rules


For any of these things to happen, people have to have an idea and talk about it. That's what I'm doing. If people just said "fuck it, things will never change" and don't think about this stuff, then things definitely won't change.

Ultimately, it's the UFC that has the money, and thus the power. If they feel an idea is in their interest to adopt, then they can get behind it, and the commissions will work with them.

And I feel this idea is good for the promoters, the fighters, and the fans.
 
Hendricks vs Sapp... or gastelum.
Every MW and above would be HW. Fine by me.
No more 125 or even 135.
 
Btw, OneFC knows the way.
Fuck weight cutting.
 
DISCLAIMER: This thread is not about getting rid of weight classes and having all fights be openweight, where anyone can fight anyone, like in the early days.

Click spoiler for full post or see TLDR below:

This is the simplest and easiest way to get rid of weight cutting. We don't need weight classes anymore. They're an outdated idea. Khabib/Max should have happened last weekend, and it's ridiculous that it didn't. Neither Khabib nor Max shoulda been destroying their bodies in the first place; it's all so unnecessary.

Fighters can just be weighed at random times throughout the year. The UFC has a finite (~600) number of fighters on the roster. That's manageable -- instituting and running the USADA drug testing program was/is exponentially more expensive than simply weighing fighters a few times per year. USADA could even be the ones who weigh the fighters.

These weigh-ins would be used to develop a historical record of fighter weights. These weights, along with height and reach stats, would be used for matchmaking. There'd be some sort of formula used to determine what fights can be made, containing all of these size properties. It'd be in fighters' best interests to stay in shape year-round, to create low weight records. This would be a secondary benefit of the new system.

An obvious core benefit of this new system is that matchmaking will have been freed up tremendously. No more divisions, preventing potentially great fights.

NEW RANKING AND TITLE SYSTEM

Yet another benefit of the new system would be the improvement of the existing "game of rankings" that people obsess over.

Titles would still exist, but they wouldn't be attached to any particular weight or size. If at any point two champions exist close enough in size to fight, then there'd be an option to unify the titles if it's deemed necessary. If at any point NO champions exist around a particular size, while there's a clear world class fighter, then that fighter can fight for a new title. There'd be no more need for "interim champions", as champions aren't attached to any particular division. Everyone is either a champion, or in 99% of fighters' cases, not a champion.

Rankings could be replaced by all fighters being "graded", e.g. "entry level, mid level, contender" or "grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". This would be far superior to rankings anyway, as it'd prevent fighters from ducking lower ranked opponents. "Mid level" fighters could dominate other "mid level" fighters, and thus earn a "contender" ranking, despite other "contender" fighters refusing to fight them and any other "mid level" fighters. This grading system would have yet another benefit, in that it'd stop certain fans and media members, i.e. Luke Thomas and Jeff Wagenheim, from being so confused about what rankings are for.

In this system, all fighters exist within 1 pool, rather than 8 different pools as they are currently. Within that pool, each fighter would have their grade. So, Overeem would be graded "contender", as would Cejudo. Both would be in the same pool, despite the fact that they can never fight each other. On a website or on TV graphics, the pool could then be filtered by specific criteria, to only display fighters of a certain height, reach, and/or weight, as well as grade. Or it could be filtered by a chosen fighter, showing a result-set containing that fighter alongside all other fighters they're eligible to fight.

TLDR: Weight classes are no longer necessary. Weigh fighters randomly multiple times throughout the year instead to develop historical weight records. This would improve matchmaking and remove weight cutting. A new ranking and title system could be implemented despite the lack of divisions. The current system is outdated, and I think this is the way forward. Don't be afraid of change.
I mean I think you're on to something. I just think they should be weighed 3months prior to a fight multiple times at random. No known weigh in dates because fighters will cut just to make that. There has to be a little wiggle room for the fighters, but ufc can make it work. I actually posted something similar to this today. Keep the weight classes though. The weights allowed to cut needs to be adjusted by weight class. I.E a heavy fighter can healthfully cut more than a lighter fighter. I say for HW's they must be within 15 lbs, and so most would prob walk around 10-13 lbs heavier because it's too risky to walk around at 15 because you may tip the scale.
 
Just adopt ONE Championship system.... eliminate weight cutting by banning dehydrated fighters from weighing in.
 
DISCLAIMER: This thread is not about getting rid of weight classes and having all fights be openweight, where anyone can fight anyone, like in the early days.

Click spoiler for full post or see TLDR below:

This is the simplest and easiest way to get rid of weight cutting. We don't need weight classes anymore. They're an outdated idea. Khabib/Max should have happened last weekend, and it's ridiculous that it didn't. Neither Khabib nor Max shoulda been destroying their bodies in the first place; it's all so unnecessary.

Fighters can just be weighed at random times throughout the year. The UFC has a finite (~600) number of fighters on the roster. That's manageable -- instituting and running the USADA drug testing program was/is exponentially more expensive than simply weighing fighters a few times per year. USADA could even be the ones who weigh the fighters.

These weigh-ins would be used to develop a historical record of fighter weights. These weights, along with height and reach stats, would be used for matchmaking. There'd be some sort of formula used to determine what fights can be made, containing all of these size properties. It'd be in fighters' best interests to stay in shape year-round, to create low weight records. This would be a secondary benefit of the new system.

An obvious core benefit of this new system is that matchmaking will have been freed up tremendously. No more divisions, preventing potentially great fights.

NEW RANKING AND TITLE SYSTEM

Yet another benefit of the new system would be the improvement of the existing "game of rankings" that people obsess over.

Titles would still exist, but they wouldn't be attached to any particular weight or size. If at any point two champions exist close enough in size to fight, then there'd be an option to unify the titles if it's deemed necessary. If at any point NO champions exist around a particular size, while there's a clear world class fighter, then that fighter can fight for a new title. There'd be no more need for "interim champions", as champions aren't attached to any particular division. Everyone is either a champion, or in 99% of fighters' cases, not a champion.

Rankings could be replaced by all fighters being "graded", e.g. "entry level, mid level, contender" or "grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". This would be far superior to rankings anyway, as it'd prevent fighters from ducking lower ranked opponents. "Mid level" fighters could dominate other "mid level" fighters, and thus earn a "contender" ranking, despite other "contender" fighters refusing to fight them and any other "mid level" fighters. This grading system would have yet another benefit, in that it'd stop certain fans and media members, i.e. Luke Thomas and Jeff Wagenheim, from being so confused about what rankings are for.

In this system, all fighters exist within 1 pool, rather than 8 different pools as they are currently. Within that pool, each fighter would have their grade. So, Overeem would be graded "contender", as would Cejudo. Both would be in the same pool, despite the fact that they can never fight each other. On a website or on TV graphics, the pool could then be filtered by specific criteria, to only display fighters of a certain height, reach, and/or weight, as well as grade. Or it could be filtered by a chosen fighter, showing a result-set containing that fighter alongside all other fighters they're eligible to fight.

TLDR: Weight classes are no longer necessary. Weigh fighters randomly multiple times throughout the year instead to develop historical weight records. This would improve matchmaking and remove weight cutting. A new ranking and title system could be implemented despite the lack of divisions. The current system is outdated, and I think this is the way forward. Don't be afraid of change.


I actually really like this idea.

Would bring more exciting fights and fighters would get injured / miss fights less due to drastic weight cuts.
 
DISCLAIMER: This thread is not about getting rid of weight classes and having all fights be openweight, where anyone can fight anyone, like in the early days.

Click spoiler for full post or see TLDR below:

This is the simplest and easiest way to get rid of weight cutting. We don't need weight classes anymore. They're an outdated idea. Khabib/Max should have happened last weekend, and it's ridiculous that it didn't. Neither Khabib nor Max shoulda been destroying their bodies in the first place; it's all so unnecessary.

Fighters can just be weighed at random times throughout the year. The UFC has a finite (~600) number of fighters on the roster. That's manageable -- instituting and running the USADA drug testing program was/is exponentially more expensive than simply weighing fighters a few times per year. USADA could even be the ones who weigh the fighters.

These weigh-ins would be used to develop a historical record of fighter weights. These weights, along with height and reach stats, would be used for matchmaking. There'd be some sort of formula used to determine what fights can be made, containing all of these size properties. It'd be in fighters' best interests to stay in shape year-round, to create low weight records. This would be a secondary benefit of the new system.

An obvious core benefit of this new system is that matchmaking will have been freed up tremendously. No more divisions, preventing potentially great fights.

NEW RANKING AND TITLE SYSTEM

Yet another benefit of the new system would be the improvement of the existing "game of rankings" that people obsess over.

Titles would still exist, but they wouldn't be attached to any particular weight or size. If at any point two champions exist close enough in size to fight, then there'd be an option to unify the titles if it's deemed necessary. If at any point NO champions exist around a particular size, while there's a clear world class fighter, then that fighter can fight for a new title. There'd be no more need for "interim champions", as champions aren't attached to any particular division. Everyone is either a champion, or in 99% of fighters' cases, not a champion.

Rankings could be replaced by all fighters being "graded", e.g. "entry level, mid level, contender" or "grade 1, 2, 3, 4, 5". This would be far superior to rankings anyway, as it'd prevent fighters from ducking lower ranked opponents. "Mid level" fighters could dominate other "mid level" fighters, and thus earn a "contender" ranking, despite other "contender" fighters refusing to fight them and any other "mid level" fighters. This grading system would have yet another benefit, in that it'd stop certain fans and media members, i.e. Luke Thomas and Jeff Wagenheim, from being so confused about what rankings are for.

In this system, all fighters exist within 1 pool, rather than 8 different pools as they are currently. Within that pool, each fighter would have their grade. So, Overeem would be graded "contender", as would Cejudo. Both would be in the same pool, despite the fact that they can never fight each other. On a website or on TV graphics, the pool could then be filtered by specific criteria, to only display fighters of a certain height, reach, and/or weight, as well as grade. Or it could be filtered by a chosen fighter, showing a result-set containing that fighter alongside all other fighters they're eligible to fight.

TLDR: Weight classes are no longer necessary. Weigh fighters randomly multiple times throughout the year instead to develop historical weight records. This would improve matchmaking and remove weight cutting. A new ranking and title system could be implemented despite the lack of divisions. The current system is outdated, and I think this is the way forward. Don't be afraid of change.


nick diaz vs brock is something i would pay for
 
Just let them bang. Fuck weight classes
 
Many fighters fall completely out of shape after they fight. Then take 12 week camp to get back into shape.
The weight fluctuation is crazy. Your system would cause a lot of injuries simply because fighters would try to stay in fighting shape to not be forced to a higher weight.
 
It's actually a worthy idea but I think you're taking it too far. There should still be weight classes / divisions but they would be based on your average weight (or some other formula that considers your max and min) and they could overlap a bit as well.

Without divisions it would get too weird as you'd have one guy who can fight another guy but can't fight yet another guy that the other guy can fight. Sorry, that is complicated to say but it means that you wouldn't be able to fight all the opponents of anyone you can fight. So there would never be a "neat" way of containing a championship. I realize that the whole idea of weight divisions is artificial, but humans need that sort of structure to digest the entertainment of the sport.

The whole goal of any new scheme should simply be to get rid of unhealthy weight-cutting.
 
Is not that i'm afraid of change, it's just that you and your idea are really stupid.

<bball1>

Let's say Max Holloway wants to eat a lot of unhealthy food and gain some weight/fat when he has no fight booked, walking around at 190 lbs, that doesn't make him as big as a actual 170er like Woodley or Thompson, there is no fucking problem with weight classes and they will NEVER go away, it's not a outdated concept, it's just a part of the sport, weight is a ENORMOUS advantage in a fight, if you can't understand that go fuck yourself, you're really dumb.

<{hfved}>

Reading all this non sense like it is some revolutionary idea that will solve all the problems of combat sports is sickening, holy fuck. How can someone be that narcissist? You really think that YOU, that can't understand the simple weight classes need, of ALL people in the fighting business/fandom, is the one that will come with the solution? GTFO

<LikeReally5><Y2JSmirk>{<diva} <3>
 
Last edited:
Is not that i'm afraid of change, it's just that you and your idea are really stupid.

<bball1>

Let's say Max Holloway wants to eat a lot of unhealthy food and gain some weight/fat when he has no fight booked, walking around at 190 lbs, that doesn't make him as big as a actual 170er like Woodley or Thompson, there is no fucking problem with weight classes and they will NEVER go away, it's not a outdated concept, it's just a part of the sport, weight is a ENORMOUS advantage in a fight, if you can't understand that go fuck yourself, you're really dumb.

<{hfved}>

Reading all this non sense like it is some revolutionary idea that will solve all the problems of combat sports is sickening, holy fuck. How can someone be that narcissist? You really think that YOU, that can't understand the simple weight classes need, of ALL people in the fighting business/fandom, is the one that will come with the solution? GTFO

<LikeReally5><Y2JSmirk>{<diva} <3>
How do you really feel?
 
I like the tier idea instead of the current rankings
 
Many fighters fall completely out of shape after they fight. Then take 12 week camp to get back into shape.
The weight fluctuation is crazy. Your system would cause a lot of injuries simply because fighters would try to stay in fighting shape to not be forced to a higher weight.
This.
 
Ngannou also knows da wey
tenor.gif
 
Back
Top