Why did it become

[Luffy]

Why did it become so much more common for champions to go for double champion?

Like, normally in the past there wasn't a so often double belt attempt, they'd stick way more to many defenses. Today, it's more common to challenge the champion above and get double champion. Topuria with Islam. DDP with Poatan. Poatan as well, who has long asked for a fight with Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones.

Is it becoming more difficult to beat weight with time? Or maybe due to the PPV just making it so that fights between champions from different categories are way more hyped and then profitable for the fighters? Or because they consider it a way to reach legend status?

Lol I don't think the last one is the cause for more that we think it is.

 

[World eater]

Because they cut a lot of weight. Usually, they have to cut a bit for the division above as well. Getting ridiculous.

 

[Contempt]

Money and bragging rights... next question.

 

[Mike]

I think because after Conor they started allowing more guys to move up and they for a second belt. That used to be something you needed their approval for, and sometimes they said no like with Aldo. He was told he would have to give up the fw belt if he wanted a lw title shot.

 

[Egészségére!]

You probably answered your own question

It creates an automatic “superfight” - more hype, more $$ & less risk than fighting a lesser known contender in their own weight class because if they lose (moving up) it doesn’t affect their legacy as much

Wins all around

 

[Luthien]

Bigger payday

 

[Ginja_Ninja]

It's 100% because of the weight cutting. Every champ is 30lbs heavier than their weight class. They still have to cut to get to the weight class above them. This was not the case 20 years ago. Fighters would cut a bit but a move up would put them way to undersized. You compare most of the legends to todays fighter and they are much more similar in size to those a class below.

Islam is the same size as GSP, Hughes
Aldo and Egar went and fought BW
BJ fought FW
Young Jones and Anderson were bigger for the division but not compared to todays MWs and LHWs

 

[AmonTobin]

It’s a bit of a scam. Especially if you haven’t defended your title even 3 times and get an immediate title shot in a new weight class without having to fight any qualifiers in the new division.

 

[jeskola]

It's annoying and I'm tired of it. Most of these guys fight once or twice a year as it is, now we got more logjam at the top. It means fewer title fights and screws over contenders.

These guys should be required to vacate for the title shot at a minimum, preferably with at least one fight against a gatekeeper at the new weight class before the shot at the belt.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

A chance to fight for another belt while not having to put your own belt on the line?

Thanks in part to guys like CCC, DC, and Khabib, being a multiple weight champion and/or having a temporary P4P #1 ranking is lauded above consecutive title defenses. Conor probably gad the biggest impact on the aggrandization of champ champ.

I really hope Islam stays at LW and racks up some more. 6 defenses at LW sounds awesome, and he could totally do it.

 

[skylolow]

They do it primarily to cement legacy status.

 

[usernamee]

real brain teaser here

 

[El Fernas]

Weight cut is the smallest reason, unless you are Conor Mcgregor at 145, back then it was a HUGE reason why he never ever touched FW ever again.

The main reason they do is because its "free money", as in, they still have their belt for more good pay but will get compensated fairly for a "super fight" for a 2nd belt, its not that hard to see why they do it, its all the glory with the same risk as almost every other fight.

 

[wolffanghameha]

I suspect fighters always were interested in it (for legacy, competition and money. I mean, there are fighters who say they want to do one-night tournaments, fight heavier guys or no-time-limit fights, but aren't allowed to), but the gates weren't open until Conor. I remember Aldo wanted to go up to LW and Dana wouldn't allow it.
Conor then gets to claim to be a GOAT and get the same prestige (especially with the general public) as someone who's defended their belt 4+ times.

But fighting and winning a second belt is easier than defending your belt a bunch of times, if you're able to put the weight on. It's easier to win 2-3 title fights in your weight class, then move up and win another title fight, compared to winning 5-6 title fights in your own weight class. One takes 3-4 years, the other takes 1-2 years.

It's also usually a bigger fight than defending against a contender, because the champion of another weight class is usually the bigger name, which means more PPV buys and therefore money for the fighter.

 

[HHJ]

It gives you alot of leverage.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

It's a win win situation got the person coming from the smaller class

 

[VAfan]

one word - ego. other guys have done it, they need to do it too.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Why did it become so much more common for champions to go for double champion?

Like, normally in the past there wasn't a so often double belt attempt, they'd stick way more to many defenses. Today, it's more common to challenge the champion above and get double champion. Topuria with Islam. DDP with Poatan. Poatan as well, who has long asked for a fight with Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones.

Is it becoming more difficult to beat weight with time? Or maybe due to the PPV just making it so that fights between champions from different categories are way more hyped and then profitable for the fighters? Or because they consider it a way to reach legend status?

Lol I don't think the last one is the cause for more that we think it is.

Many reasons but the simple fact is Defending is harder then challenging.
Conor's career is a perfect example. He kept the FW title so he could have a fall back plan. No risk going for the LW title. Imagine if he fought RDA and lost? Is he done? Nope he goes back to FW and is still champion. Even when he was stripped he kept on as if he was still FW champ because he didn't lose it.

UFC champions make so much more money holding the belt then they do after they lose it. Dillashaw went back to $25k/$25k after he lost the belt iirc. You make less as a former champion for appearance fees and endorsements then while you hold a UFC belt.

That is why what GSP, DJ, Aldo, Anderson, Jon & Stipe have done makes them GOATs.
Islam can get to that status if he gets in at least 2 defenses against actual LW #1 contenders. Its not completely his fault but choosing Volk over the actual back up who was an actual LW contender and Moi-CAN-o over Dariush doesn't help IMO. He has 1 defense against a dominant FW champion who I can say kind of deserved the LW title shot, one defense against a LW top 5 contender in Poirier and both were tough fights. A 2nd defense against a FW off the couch and the easier LW as a last minute replacement doesn't get him into the category of the fighters mentioned above.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Free title fight. Free ppv points and you keep your other belt. Heavier fighter gets stuck having to say yes because they are bigger.
Unless your Islam then you say no to certain smaller fighters.

 

[AndrewGolota48]

Because they cut a lot of weight. Usually, they have to cut a bit for the division above as well. Getting ridiculous.

Ha, it has become a trope "he has trouble making the weight" blah blah. But honestly people would say that back in the day when it wasn't even accurate, they would exaggerate the size of any dominant champ.

I remember people used to pretend Aldo was huge and could barely make 145, which we now know is absurd. Same with GSP and Anderson. Aldo and Anderson have made lower weight classes...and GSP has come out and revealed that he's an average sized WW.