Mixed martial arts weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of mixed martial arts.
Prior to state sanctioning, weight classes were not mandatory since the competitions were held without the approval of the athletic commissions. For instance, the Ultimate Fighting Championship introduced two weight classes at UFC 12 : heavyweight, which grouped competitors above 200 lb (91 kg), and lightweight, which grouped competitors under 200 lb.
Weight classes underwent many changes in the ensuing years, but the ability of promotions to autonomously decide their own weight classes eventually disappeared after athletic commissions began supervising mixed martial arts.
In 2000, the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts were codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. The California State Athletic Commission had worked extensively on regulation, but their sanctioning of MMA was not implemented due to state governmental issues surrounding the process. [1] California officially sanctioned MMA on December 28, 2005, using the ruleset it helped devise five years previously. [2]
Since then, to create uniformity, all state commissions in the United States that regulate mixed martial arts have assimilated these rules into their existing unarmed combat competition rules and statutes. For a promotion to hold mixed martial arts events in a state-sanctioned venue, the promotion must abide by the state athletic commission's body of rules for weight limits.
The Unified Rules designate limits for fourteen different weight classes in mixed martial arts; all definitions and measurements are in pounds. [3] The strawweight class was added in 2015. [4] The super lightweight, super welterweight, super middleweight, and cruiserweight classes were added in July 2017. [5]
| Weight class | Upper weight limit |
|---|---|
| Strawweight | 115 lb (52.2 kg) |
| Flyweight | 125 lb (56.7 kg) |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61.2 kg) |
| Featherweight | 145 lb (65.8 kg) |
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70.3 kg) |
| Super lightweight | 165 lb (74.8 kg) |
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77.1 kg) |
| Super welterweight | 175 lb (79.4 kg) |
| Middleweight | 185 lb (83.9 kg) |
| Super middleweight | 195 lb (88.5 kg) |
| Light heavyweight | 205 lb (93.0 kg) |
| Cruiserweight | 225 lb (102.1 kg) |
| Heavyweight | 265 lb (120.2 kg) |
| Super heavyweight | No limit |
With no state or government laws regarding weight class restrictions, organizations in other countries are free to schedule bouts with little regard for weight differential. However, due to the increasingly competitive and international nature of the sport, weight limits have been set by the promotions themselves, usually in alignment with the Unified Rules, as maintaining standard weight classes is seen as fair and standard for all competitors. Singapore-based ONE Championship banned weight-cutting by dehydration in December 2015 and holds fights based on a competitor's "walking weight", rather than pre-fight weigh-ins. [6] The change took place after 21-year-old Yang Jian Bing died due to dehydration by weight-cutting in 2015. [7] The new system has been well-received by athletes and other stakeholders in the MMA industry. [8] [9] [10] [11]
Weight limits in women's MMA mostly follow the Unified Rules' limits, but organizations that recognize women's championships usually only have titles at the lower end of the table. UFC, for example, recognizes women's titles in the strawweight, flyweight, and bantamweight classes. Some organizations that recognize women's championships also sanction a separate atomweight title with a 105 pounds (48 kg) limit.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Weight cutting is the practice of fast weight loss prior to a sporting competition. It most frequently happens in order to qualify for a lower weight class or to meet the maximum weight limit in the heaviest weight class if one exists or in sports where it is advantageous to weigh as little as possible. There are two types of weight cutting: one method is to lose weight in the form of fat and muscle in the weeks prior to an event; the other is to lose weight in the form of water in the final days before competition. Common methods to cut weight include restricting food intake, water-loading, and perspiration through exercise, wearing a sweatsuit, and/or sitting in a sauna.
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes:
The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:
The welterweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes:
The middleweight division in mixed martial arts refers to different weight classes:
The featherweight division in mixed martial arts refers to different weight classes:
The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes.
The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts (MMA) generally groups fighters between 206–265 lb (93.4–120.2 kg).
The super heavyweight division in mixed martial arts has no weight limit but generally refers to competitors weighing above 265 lb (120 kg). This is the definition used by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions.
UFC 28: High Stakes was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 17, 2000 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Most rule sets for mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions have evolved since the early days of Vale Tudo. As a result of health, legal, and moral concerns, many different rulesets were created, which give different countries and promotions very different tactics and strategies. Similarly, shoot wrestling organizations, such as Shooto, expanded their rulesets to integrate elements of Vale Tudo into their sport. However, for the most part, fighters accustomed to one rule set can easily acclimate to the others.
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.
Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is currently owned by the Canadian-based Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
The atomweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing less than 48 kg (105.8 lb), depending on the promotion. It sits below the heavier strawweight division and is the lightest weight class widely recognized within MMA. The atomweight division in mixed martial arts is used almost exclusively for Women's MMA.
While mixed martial arts is primarily a male dominated sport, it does have female athletes. For instance, Female competition in Japan includes promotions such as DEEP Jewels. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Valkyrie, and Smackgirl. Professional mixed martial arts organizations in the United States that invite women to compete are industry leader Ultimate Fighting Championship, the all female Invicta Fighting Championships, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, Bellator Fighting Championships, and Legacy Fighting Championship. Now defunct promotions that featured female fighters were Strikeforce and EliteXC. There has been a growing awareness of women in mixed martial arts due to popular female fighters and personalities such as Amanda Nunes, Megumi Fujii, Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Holly Holm, Alexa Grasso, and Joanna Jędrzejczyk and among others. Carano became known as "the face of women's MMA" after appearing in a number of EliteXC events. This was furthered by her appearances on MGM Television's 2008 revival of their game show American Gladiators.
Prospect Fighting Championships or PFC is a Canadian combat sports promotion based in London, Ontario, Canada. Established in 2013, it is the oldest active promotion in the province. It was formerly known as the Provincial Fighting Championship before rebranding in 2015. The PFC is one of the largest MMA promotions in Canada, thus it provides talent to the UFC as a feeder organization. In 2023, the promotion signed a deal with Fite TV to stream events on their broadcast service.
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