Bantamweight (MMA)

Last updated October 05, 2024

The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different MMA weight classes:

The UFC's bantamweight division, which groups competitors within 126–135 lb (57.2-61.3 kg)
The King of the Cage bantamweight class, with upper limit at 145 lb (65.8 kg)^[1]
The Shooto bantamweight division, which suits competitors below 125 lb (56.7 kg)
The ONE Championship's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 65.8 kg (145.1 lb)
The Road FC's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 135.6 lb (61.5 kg)

The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight (116–125 lb) division and the heavier featherweight division (136–145 lb).

Ambiguity and clarification

For the sake of uniformity, many American mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 126 and 135 lb (57 and 61 kg) as bantamweights, as it encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage Flyweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). The Association of Boxing Commissions, which governs MMA in the United States, uses the 126-135 standard for "bantamweight".

Prior to UFC 31 , 150-pound (68 kg) fighters were known as bantamweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, after which the weight limit was raised to 155 lb (70 kg), and the division was reinstated as the lightweight class.

The bantamweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission ^[2] and the Association of Boxing Commissions ^[3] is 135 lb (61.36 kg).

Professional champions

Current champions

These tables were last updated in August 2023.

Men:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	September 14, 2024	Merab Dvalishvili	18–4 (3KO 1SUB)	0
Bellator	November 17, 2023	Patchy Mix	20–1 (2KO 13SUB)	1
ONE Championship	February 25, 2023	Fabrício Andrade	9–2 (5KO 2SUB)	0
Rizin FF	September 29, 2024	Naoki Inoue	20–4 (2KO 11SUB)	0
Fight Nights Global	October 14, 2022	Sabit Zhusupov	15–3 (6KO 3SUB)	0
KSW	December 17, 2022	Jakub Wikłacz	14-3-1 (0KO 9SUB)	0
Cage Warriors	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
ACA	March 26, 2022	Oleg Borisov	26–6–1 (12KO 1SUB)	1
Brave CF	N/A	Vacant	N/A	N/A
Legacy Fighting Alliance	June 16, 2023	John Sweeney	13–3 (4KO 3SUB)	0

Women:

Organization	Reign Began	Champion	Record	Defenses
UFC	January 20, 2024	Raquel Pennington	16–8 (1KO 4SUB)	0
Invicta FC	January 18, 2023	Talita Bernardo	10–4 (0KO 6SUB)	0

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The strawweight division in mixed martial arts is for competitors weighing between 106 and 115 lb. It sits between the lighter atomweight division and the heavier flyweight division.

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References

↑ "Fighters: Rankings ..." KingoftheCage.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
↑ "Nevada Revised Statutes: `er 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
↑ "Unified Rules of MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.

External links

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[1] "Fighters: Rankings ..." KingoftheCage.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-20.

[2] "Nevada Revised Statutes: `er 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-20.

[3] "Unified Rules of MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.

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