Weight divisions aren't necessary to ensure fair fights

[johncola]

Why can't fights just be negotiated on a fight-by-fight basis? Only book fights and accept fights between fighters of a similar size. Height and reach stats aren't variable. Weight can be measured on fight night just to keep record.

What about champions, you ask? They can still exist. They just aren't attached to any particular weight. Naturally, champions will only fight fighters of a similar size. With belts changing hands, we might see 2 champs of a similar size. In that case, a unification fight is in order. On the other hand, we might see size gaps emerge. In that case, crown a new champion.

I don't see a problem with this idea.

Edit: i forgot to actually mention the point of this. There's 2 clear ones: 1. Remove weight cutting. 2. remove barriers that prevent fights between certain fighters

 

[beastman]

Given that the UFC awards title shots without regard for common sense, I'd agree that more catch-weight fights should occur. 175, 195, 220.

 

[johncola]

Given that the UFC awards title shots without regard for common sense, I'd agree that more catch-weight fights should occur. 175, 195, 220.

No catchweight. Fights wouldnt be fought at any particular weight. Just book fighters who are of a similar size. Size = height + weight + reach. Weigh-ins would still happen, but only to keep a record of weight.

 

[SaintSoldier]

I'd have no issue with this, honestly.

 

[Pitier of Fools]

It's a good concept, but without weight divisions how could you possibly have a champion? The only way you could do that is by having a champion of a weight range. As soon as you do that you're back to weight classes.

 

[Sega30]

so every champ would just be introduced as "One of the many champions we have"? Doesn't exactly have a nice ring to it

 

[johncola]

It's a good concept, but without weight divisions how could you possibly have a champion? The only way you could do that is by having a champion of a weight range. As soon as you do that you're back to weight classes.

No, don't attach the belt to any weight. Champions can fight anyone who's deemed a fair size.

In this system, titles would likely move around from fighters of slightly different sizes. E.g. in 2017 a 5ft11 190lb fighter might have a title. Let's say that title changes hands 5 times over 3 years. So now we're in 2020 and a 6ft2 210lb fighter has that same title. Meanwhile, there's a different champ who's 6ft1 and 216lbs. In such a situation, those titles could be unified. If any big size gaps emerge in which there are no titles, new ones could be created in a fight between 2 top fighters who are around that size.

 

[johncola]

so every champ would just be introduced as "One of the many champions we have"? Doesn't exactly have a nice ring to it

No, he'll be introduced as "champion". And that does have a nice ring to it.

 

[Les Vejtibals]

In my future, long pants will no longer be long, nor short. Pants will only be pants.

 

[Sega30]

No, he'll be introduced as "champion". And that does have a nice ring to it.

Champion of what though? And does this mean there can be 3 guys who are 155 who have a belt? Then what's the point of having a belt if it means nothing?

 

[johncola]

In my future, long pants will no longer be long, nor short. Pants will only be pants.

Fortunately, those pants are still in top condition because they haven't been washed at 100 celsius over and over and over again

 

[johncola]

Champion of what though? And does this mean there can be 3 guys who are 155 who have a belt? Then what's the point of having a belt if it means nothing?

Champion of the UFC. It means he's a top fighter. Absolutely doesn't mean nothing.

If there are 3 guys with titles who are all a similar size then some unification fights need to happen. I dont have a problem with that.

 

[Les Vejtibals]

Fortunately, those pants are still in top condition because they haven't been washed at 100 celsius over and over and over again

I always pegged you for a "glass is half full" kinda guy!

 

[dipstickjimmy]

So how would this work?

Corey Hill (R.I.P.) was 6'4" tall with an 80" reach
Jon Jones is 6'4" tall with an 84" reach
Daniel Cormier is 5'11" tall with a 72.5" reach

So by your way of matching things up Jones vs Hill makes more sense than DC vs Jones?
I think the weight thing is a lot better IMO. If you want to cut out weight cutting then have fighters weigh in 4 weeks out 3 weeks out 2 weeks out and on fight night. Fighters weight must stay within a prescribed amount. Say a LW fighter who weighs in at 155 4 weeks out can only fluctuate a few pounds maybe 2 or 3? If weigh in shows up you can only have a couple of hours to hit the weight. If you have a weigh in at noon and miss you have a few hours to hit the weight so cutting a few pounds in the sauna or whatever cuts the massive dehydration. Basically everyone moves up a division and HW would fill in with all of the 205 lb LHWs that can't make it. Maybe make 235 or 240 the cut off and above becomes SHW.

 

[jeremyemilio]

Why can't fights just be negotiated on a fight-by-fight basis? Only book fights and accept fights between fighters of a similar size. Height and reach stats aren't variable. Weight can be measured on fight night just to keep record.

What about champions, you ask? They can still exist. They just aren't attached to any particular weight. Naturally, champions will only fight fighters of a similar size. With belts changing hands, we might see 2 champs of a similar size. In that case, a unification fight is in order. On the other hand, we might see size gaps emerge. In that case, crown a new champion.

I don't see a problem with this idea.

Edit: i forgot to actually mention the point of this. There's 2 clear ones: 1. Remove weight cutting. 2. remove barriers that prevent fights between certain fighters

I've been saying something like this for years. So much so, that I feel you've probably read a post of mine somewhere and are rehashing it.

Except I really don't think you can have (many) champs this way. I just don't much care.

 

[johncola]

So how would this work?

Corey Hill (R.I.P.) was 6'4" tall with an 80" reach
Jon Jones is 6'4" tall with an 84" reach
Daniel Cormier is 5'11" tall with a 72.5" reach

So by your way of matching things up Jones vs Hill makes more sense than DC vs Jones?
I think the weight thing is a lot better IMO. If you want to cut out weight cutting then have fighters weigh in 4 weeks out 3 weeks out 2 weeks out and on fight night. Fighters weight must stay within a prescribed amount. Say a LW fighter who weighs in at 155 4 weeks out can only fluctuate a few pounds maybe 2 or 3? If weigh in shows up you can only have a couple of hours to hit the weight. If you have a weigh in at noon and miss you have a few hours to hit the weight so cutting a few pounds in the sauna or whatever cuts the massive dehydration. Basically everyone moves up a division and HW would fill in with all of the 205 lb LHWs that can't make it. Maybe make 235 or 240 the cut off and above becomes SHW.

I'm not suggesting height or reach classes. I'm saying all 3 matter. Sometimes 2 inches of height can be more important than 10 lbs of weight. It really depends on fighter styles. In my system, weight would still be used. There'd a record of historical fighter weights. Those weights, along with height and reach, would be used as a guide in booking fights.

 

[jeremyemilio]

So how would this work?

Corey Hill (R.I.P.) was 6'4" tall with an 80" reach
Jon Jones is 6'4" tall with an 84" reach
Daniel Cormier is 5'11" tall with a 72.5" reach

So by your way of matching things up Jones vs Hill makes more sense than DC vs Jones?
I think the weight thing is a lot better IMO. If you want to cut out weight cutting then have fighters weigh in 4 weeks out 3 weeks out 2 weeks out and on fight night. Fighters weight must stay within a prescribed amount. Say a LW fighter who weighs in at 155 4 weeks out can only fluctuate a few pounds maybe 2 or 3? If weigh in shows up you can only have a couple of hours to hit the weight. If you have a weigh in at noon and miss you have a few hours to hit the weight so cutting a few pounds in the sauna or whatever cuts the massive dehydration. Basically everyone moves up a division and HW would fill in with all of the 205 lb LHWs that can't make it. Maybe make 235 or 240 the cut off and above becomes SHW.

Naw. You'd match up guys who make sense to match up. It's not that complicated. They do it with regard to skill and experience. They can do it with regard to size as well. JJ v DC is still the fight to make because, as you have pointed out, and as everyone else can see without any need to resort to scales, JJ v Hill makes zero sense.

 

[Flex Plexico]

If you figure out a way to ensure the promoter or whoever can't corrupt the thing and bend it to their financial whim, I like the general idea here

 

[Sega30]

Champion of the UFC. It means he's a top fighter. Absolutely doesn't mean nothing.

If there are 3 guys with titles who are all a similar size then some unification fights need to happen. I dont have a problem with that.

Ok so there's 2 belts, both owned by guy 150 lbs. Eventually as the years go by, one title is eventually owned by Mighty Mouse at 125, the other by Jones at 205. Whats the incentive for anyone 140-185 pounds to fight? Now we have to make new belts. Now since these belts aren't won by actual champions, just handed out, they can't mean as much as the others. And then a few years down the road, all 5 belts are owned by guys between 150 to 165 pounds. Again, what the incentive for anyone 135 and under and 180 and over to fight? We need new belts again. In 10 years, you're layout just leads to the creation of weight classes to avoid this endless circle.

 

[Pitier of Fools]

No, don't attach the belt to any weight. Champions can fight anyone who's deemed a fair size.

In this system, titles would likely move around from fighters of slightly different sizes. E.g. in 2017 a 5ft11 190lb fighter might have a title. Let's say that title changes hands 5 times over 3 years. So now we're in 2020 and a 6ft2 210lb fighter has that same title. Meanwhile, there's a different champ who's 6ft1 and 216lbs. In such a situation, those titles could be unified. If any big size gaps emerge in which there are no titles, new ones could be created in a fight between 2 top fighters who are around that size.

Now you're getting just silly. A "belt" in this kind of scenario would mean less than the interim belts do now. They'd mean less than a Nogueira brothers black belt.