UFC Men's Weight Categories In Order And Ranking | mixed martial arts hive (2023)

As with most martial arts, UFC fights are held for two opponents of equal weight to create a fair standard for competition.

These weight classes are sometimes referred to as weight classes and cover the first fourUFC Women's Weight Categoriesand from the second to the ninth for men.

The complete list of the UFC's nine weight classes (divisions) is as follows:

  1. Straw weight (52.2 kg)
  2. Flyweight (56.7 kg)
  3. Bantamweight (61.2 kg)
  4. featherweight (65.78 kg)
  5. Peso leve (70.3kg)
  6. Welterweight (77.1 kg)
  7. Average weight (83.9 kg)
  8. Semi-heavy weight (205 pounds / 93.0 kg)
  9. Heavy (120.2kg)

Here's a helpful infographic that makes it even easier to understand:

UFC Men's Weight Categories In Order And Ranking | mixed martial arts hive (1)

There might even be a temporary intermediate weight class, so read on for the full breakdown.

table of contents

UFC men's weight classes en orden

This is the complete list of the eight UFC weight classes kg and lbs for men in the UFC:

weight class (division)weight (kg)weight (kg)
flyweight125 pounds56.7 kg
roosterweight135 pounds61,2kg
Pena145 pounds65,8kg
luz155 pounds70.3 kg
welterweights170 pounds77,1kg
Middleweight185 pounds83,9kg
light heavyweight205 pounds93,0kg
Heavyweight265 pounds120,2kg

A total of eight weight divisions are the usual divisions for UFC men's fighters.

As for the public,search suggestionsthat pay-per-view buyers are more interested in seeing heavyweight fights.

This is probably a holdover from boxing fans used to paying a lot for access to thebiggerfights. And sometimes that means literally!

UFC Men's Weight Rankings

Below is the daily updated rankings of each men's weight class in the UFC!

Flyweight category ranking

rangfighter
0Moreno, Brandon
1Figueiredo, Deiveson
2Pantoja, Alexandre
3Kara-Francia, Kai
4Royalval, Brandon
5Nicholas, Matthew
6Perez, Alex
7Albas, Emir
8fast, matte
9Oder Manel
10Dvorak, David
11Elliot, Tim
12Levi, Nathan
13Mudaerji, Su
14Ulánbekov, Tagir
15come on tyson

Bantamweight Division Rankings

rangfighter
0Sterling, Aljamain
1O'Malley, Sean
2Jan Peter
3Dvalishvili, Merab
4that's right marlon
5Sandhagen, Cory
6Source, Rob
7Cruz, Dominick
8Yadong lied
9Munhoz, Peter
10Simon, Ricky
11Nurmagomedov, Umar
12Gutierrez, Chris
13Yánez, Adriano
15coast, check

Featherweight Division Rankings

rangfighter
0Volkanowski, Alex
1Rodrigues, Yair
2Hollowey, Max
3Ortega, Brian
4Allen, Arnaldo
5Emmet, Josh
6Jung, Chan Sung
7Gatos, Calvin
8down, gig
9Topuria, Ilia
10Evloev, Movsar
11Mitchell, Bryce
12Yusuf, Sadiq
13Yes it is
14Barbosa, Edson
15Caceres, Alex

light class rating

rangfighter
0Makhachev, o Islam
1Oliveira, Carlos
2Poirier, Dustin
3Gaethje, Justin
4Dariosh, Beneil
5Kremer, Michael
6Fiziev, Rafael
7Gamrot, Matthew
8Zarukjan, Arman
9Dos Anjos, Raphael
10Turner, Yalin
11Prostitute, Daniel
12Ismagulov, Damir
13Mohawk, Renato
14good drawing
15dawson, conceder

welterweight ranking

rangfighter
0Edwards, Lion
1Osman, Cameroon
2Covington, Colby
3Chimaev, Chamzat
4Maoma, Belal
5Burns, Gilberto
6Thomson, Esteban
7Neal, Geoffrey
8Brady, Sean
9Lucas, Vicente
9Rachmanov, Shavkat
11Massavidal, Jorge
12church, michael
12Magno, Neil
14Della Maddalena, Jack
15Pereira, Michel

middleweight ranking

rangfighter
0Knob, Alex
1Adesanya, Israel
2Whittaker, Roberto
3Cannonier, Jared
4The Vector, Marvin
5Brunson, Derek
6Costa, Paulo Henrique
7Strickland, Sean
8Dolidze, Romano
9Hermanson, Jack
10Du Plessis, Dricus
11Imawov, Nassourdine
12Allen, Brenda
13Muniz, Andre
14Curtis, Chris
15Gastelum, Kelvin

Light Heavyweight Ranking

rangfighter
0hill, yamal
1Prochazka, Jiri
2Ankalájew, Magomed
3Blachowicz, enero
4Rakic, Aleksandar
5Smith, Anton
6Krylow, Nikita
7The Tramp, Johnny
8Span, Ryan
9Ozdemir, Volkan
10Craig, Pablo
11Reis, Dominick
12Tumba, Jim
13Rountree, Khalil
13Jacobi, Dustin
15Murzakanov, Azamat

Heavyweight Division Rankings

rangfighter
1Gane, Ciryl
2Miocic, Stipite
3Pawlowitsch, Sergej
4Blaydes, Curtis
5Tuivasa, mareas
6Aspinall, Tom
7Spivak, Serguei
8Volkov, Alejandro
9Rosenstruik, Jairzinho
10Shark, Martin
11Lewis, Derrick
12Daukaus, Chris
13Romanov, Alejandro
14Almeida, prison
15Ivanov, Blagoy

All MMA weight classes in order (MMA Unified Rules)

While the UFC uses nine different weight classes for male and female fighters, fourteen possible weight classes can be used in mixed martial arts.

The complete list of MMA weight classes as defined in the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts is as follows:

weight class (division)weight (kg)weight (kg)
straw weight115 pounds52,2kg
flyweight125 pounds56.7 kg
roosterweight135 pounds61,2kg
Pena145 pounds65,8kg
luz155 pounds70.3 kg
Super live165 pounds74,8kg
welterweights170 pounds77,1kg
super welterweight175 pounds79,4kg
Middleweight185 pounds83,9kg
super average195 pounds88,5kg
light heavyweight205 pounds93kg
cruiser weight225 pounds102,1kg
Heavyweight265 pounds120,2kg
super heavyUnlimitedUnlimited


There were nine in total when these weight classes were first created in the Unified Rules of MMA in 2000.

(Video) UFC 6 Free Fight: Ken Shamrock vs Dan Severn (1995)

However, with the development of the MMA sport, four more were added.

Strawweight was added in 2015. And the super lightweight, super welterweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight classes were added in 2017.

How Do Wrestlers Gain Weight?

Before every UFC fight, mostWrestlers experience strenuous weight losslose a few extra pounds to gain weight at the weigh-in only to rehydrate immediately afterwards and fight harder anyway.

UFC Men's Weight Categories In Order And Ranking | mixed martial arts hive (2)

This practice still exists to bring fighters within an agreed weight limit for whatever reason. But most fightersCarrying weight is much heavier.than they usually fight sometimes10-15 kg heavier!

That's why today we see Paddy Pimblett making big weight cuts that lead to a fight. Some can lose a lot of weight and make it look easy, but for others it can feel like putting themselves in a torture camp.

Lost weight in the UFC

Sometimes,Fighters will lose weight.intended for their confrontation. This can lead to a few scenarios:

  • Moving the Fight to an Intermediate Weight Class
  • 20-30% of the bag given to the opponent
  • Champions can be forced to vacate the belt before a title match

Weight class becomes Intermediate Weight

Sometimes fighters also act in a "pick up weight.” That could be any weight between the two fighters. Catch weight is used when one or both fighters are unable to meet standard weight class requirements the day before the fight.

The UFC will check fighters regularly prior to a fight, and if a fighter fails to make weight, both fighters may need to be rebooked for competition.

Without this new catchweight deal, both fighters could lose the opportunity to fight and earn money.They are only paid to show up, not even remotely to show up. So it's usually the best option.

Catchweight can sometimes be used to set up a fight night early on, especiallywhen two fighters want to fight each other but usually weigh in very different weights. For example, a middleweight fighter challenges a light heavyweight fighter.

A real-life example of this was when middleweight contender Rich Franklin agreed to a 195-pound catchweight match against light heavyweight Wanderlei Silva for UFC 99.

UFC weight division history

The beginnings of The Ultimate Fighting Championship were created to create a tournament where any fighter could fight anyone, regardless of size or weight.

This was one of the first promotional messages that came with the UFC.It was the last fighting tournament to decide who was the best fighter.

This had never happened before, and in the early 1990s, mixed martial arts only started in the United States.

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No weight class before 1997

Until 1997, the UFC officially had NO weight classes. All UFC fight nights were in the absolute category. Openweight meant that any fighter could fight anyone else if they agreed.His weight didn't matter.

So it's clear why the UFC fought so hard in its early formative years (probably 10-15 years of struggle) to get the necessary legal permits for a show.

They would have to choose their states carefully and get permission from the state agency and athletic commission.

The Openweight class was also used in special events called the Superfight Championship.The title was created to create an ultimate champion that anyone can challenge, regardless of weight.

The title didn't last long, but Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn were two winners between 1995 and 1996.

But the Superfight Championship and Open Weight division were eliminated in 1997.when the UFC finally introduced the heavyweight to replace the Superfight title and lightweight.

Over time other divisions were introduced and the actual weights changed as the sport evolved and more fighters were added.

UFC Weight Class FAQ

Now, let me answer some of the most common questions about UFC weight classes.

Are UFC weight classes the same as boxing?

Weight classes in the UFC are not the same as in boxing. They have similar names but different weight limits. For example, UFC average weight has a maximum weight of 185 pounds. In boxing, the average weight is 60 kilograms.

Which UFC weight class has the most knockouts?

HeThe heavyweight category has the most knockouts.at UFC. But surprisingly, he is closely followed by the welterweight division. It seems that these two weights offer the ideal fighting power to defeat an opponent in the same weight class.

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Which UFC weight class has the most fighters?

The welterweight division has the most fighters in the UFC, with91 active welterweightmale fighters. Behind him is the lightweight roster of 90 male fighters. The largest women's weight class is the strawweight division with 46 active female fighters.

What UFC weight class is 170 pounds?

170 pounds overall is the UFC welterweight division.

What UFC weight class is 165 pounds?

A total of 165 pounds corresponds to the Super Lightweight category of the Unified Rules of MMA. But the UFC doesn't have that weight class in its divisions. Instead, they would fall into the welterweight division with a top weight of 170 pounds.

Has the UFC always had weight classes?

The UFC hasn't always had weight divisions. Between its first event in 1993 and 1997, UFC fights were held in the absolute division. This meant that there were no weight restrictions and any fighter could fight anyone else.

Why do we have separate weight divisions in the UFC?

The separate weight classes in the UFC aim to make the competition as fair as possible. A fighter's weight directly affects things like agility, agility, strength, and power. A heavier fighter is better at taking down and seriously injuring someone lighter than him.

How often do UFC fighters change their weight class?

UFC fighters rarely change weight classes. Sometimes a losing streak can result in relegation to the weight classes. Moving up in weight class is often about trying to beat another champion, like when Conor McGregor became champion in the UFC.

When fighting, is weight more important than skill?

When two fighters face each other, their skills and weight directly affect the outcome. The lighter fighter could win with great skill and agility. However, due to their weight, they are always at risk of serious injury from a heavier hunter's blow.
In other martial arts competitions, weight can be even more critical.Weight is an important factor in wrestling., For example.
Interestingly oneSports analyst found in Berkeleythat since the introduction of weight classes in the UFC in 1997the heavier opponent only won 20% of the timemi.

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How many weight classes in the UFC?

There are nine total active weight classes in the UFC, which include men's and women's divisions. That's ten if you include Catchweight.

Web History: All UFC weight classes explained in turn

What to read next

Now you know everything about UFC weight classes, how they work and their history. Now you might be wondering what is the best way to watch the UFC or how weight loss works. Try these articles to learn more:

  • UFC Beginner's Guide
  • How do UFC fighters lose weight?

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FAQs

How many male weight classes are in the UFC? ›

Today, there 12 weight divisions in the UFC -- eight for men, four for women. Below are the current UFC champions in each weight division.

How many weight classes are in mixed martial arts? ›

Every division from super heavyweight to flyweight explained. Each of the traditional weight classes explained. There are eight traditional classes in mainstream MMA boxing, running from flyweight to heavyweight.

What weight class is 200 lbs in UFC? ›

For non-title bouts, light heavyweight athletes can weigh in up to 206 pounds, while title fights require athletes to weigh in at or under 205 pounds.

How much weight do UFC fighters cut before a fight? ›

Dieting occurs in the months and weeks leading up to a fight where a fighter burns excessive body fat and possibly even muscle that can hinder a fighter's ability to make weight. Each fighter is different, but from what I've seen, most fighters tend to try to diet down to within about 10% of their weight class.

How do UFC fighters cut weight before a fight? ›

The main way fighters cut so much weight so fast is by dehydrating themselves throughout their cut. Water makes up 60% of our body weight, so cutting out water is essential in the process of losing weight quickly and temporarily. Fighters also avoid carbs and salts to ensure the best results.

What is the hardest mixed martial arts? ›

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is considered to be the most difficult martial art to learn. Even to athletic students, mastering this discipline is unlikely to come easy. But the difficulty of learning Jiu Jitsu is attractive to many students.

Is mixed martial arts harder than boxing? ›

Boxers had more severe injuries—broken bones, serious eye injuries—and lots of head injuries, such as a concussion or losing consciousness during a match. And while some MMA fighters also had head injuries or lost consciousness, most of their injuries were cuts or contusions.

What is the biggest mixed martial arts? ›

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC holds the position one in the world ranking for the top and the best organization which is founded in 1993. Having the headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The organization has been successful in holding a total of 516 matches to date.

What is the most competitive UFC weight class? ›

Welterweight (170lb)

170lbs division is perhaps the most stacked one at the top and by far the most competitive UFC division. We have at least 6 fighters from the top 10 who can easily challenge the champ for the belt.

How much does a UFC belt weigh? ›

UFC championship belts are made of gold with each leather belt needing around 2 pounds of the precious metal for decorations. The UFC also sells gold plated replica belts to the public, which are priced at $1000 approximately. The UFC Championship belt is 50in long, weighs 5.5lbs and has 16 solid brass straps.

How do UFC weight classes work? ›

Every fighter in the UFC must fight within an existing weight class (although they can choose to move up or down the divisions if they wish). Fighters are therefore categorized by the class they fight in into different UFC weight classes, and their ultimate goal is to be the UFC Champion of that weight division.

Why did Ngannou leave UFC? ›

Francis Ngannou said he asked for a lot of things from the UFC during a long contract negotiation period. But the former UFC heavyweight champion said he ultimately decided that what the UFC was offering didn't afford him enough freedom.

Do UFC fighters weight train? ›

MMA fighters will lift weights and do calisthenics depending on the goal of the training session and cycle. For example, explosive push-ups and pull-up variations are calisthenic exercises often employed by MMA fighters as great upper body strength and power developers.

Who has fought in the most weight classes in UFC? ›

Kenny Florian remains today the only UFC fighter to compete in four different weight divisions. He started his career fighting at welterweight.

What do UFC fighters eat when cutting weight? ›

Fighters have to eat something. Since they're avoiding carbs, Dr. Berardi advises them to load up on high-quality protein like meats, eggs or a vegetarian sources of protein. It's also the perfect opportunity to eat lots of leafy vegetables (like spinach) and cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cauliflower).

Why do fighters take Epsom salt baths? ›

As part of their personal hot bath protocol, many of the fighters described the addition of 1 to 2 kg of Epsom salts to the water with the aim of augmenting the loss of body mass compared to that achieved by immersion in fresh water [14].

How much do UFC fighters lose if they don't make weight? ›

That being said, the fighter who failed to make weight will usually be asked to forfeit between 20 and 30 percent of the purse depending on far off the weight mark they were. The UFC also penalizes the offending fighter by disallowing post-fight bonuses.

Why do fighters not fight at their natural weight? ›

Weight cutting is a process where fighters dehydrate themselves and lose water weight, which is then regained by the time they fight. This way, they are heavier than the official weight limit for the division on fight night. This is done to gain strength and weight advantage over opponents.

How do fighters gain weight so fast? ›

Fighters eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, proteins, and salts. They will also drink a large amount of water, carb-rich drinks, or even liquid calories from mass gainer shakes. These huge demands can often lead to some bizarre and “freakish” refeeding processes.

How can I lose weight fast without losing muscle? ›

Follow a few of these tips to help you exercise smarter to hit your goals.
  1. Do cardio. To lose fat and gain or maintain muscle mass, do moderate- to high-intensity cardio for at least 150 minutes per week. ...
  2. Increase intensity. ...
  3. Continue to strength train. ...
  4. Take a rest.
Jun 12, 2020

Which martial art is quickest to learn? ›

Check out the following martial arts disciplines that are easy to learn:
  1. Karate. Karate is a diverse martial arts discipline that may be learned from any of three angles: as a form of self-defense, or as an art. ...
  2. Basic Boxing. New martial arts students might explore basic boxing. ...
  3. Muay Thai. ...
  4. Jiu-Jitsu. ...
  5. Krav Maga.

What is the most lethal martial art? ›

Krav Maga

Krav Maga is the deadliest martial art in the world. The military self-defense art was developed for the Israeli Defence Force and Israeli Security forces. The lethal martial art includes Judo, Karate, wrestling, boxing, and other brutal fighting techniques.

What is the most effective martial art in a real fight? ›

1. On a collision course: Krav Maga. This martial art originates from Israel, where it is taught in the army and Mossad (Israel's national intelligence service), and many believe that it is the most effective way of defending yourself against an attacker.

Can a boxer beat a UFC fighter? ›

"A boxer has no chance of winning an MMA fight and an MMA fighter has no chance of beating a boxer," was the opinion of heavyweight Vladimir Klitschko. Every martial artist has experience of boxing through their striking, although no boxer practices the arts of Muay Thai, karate or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Who punches harder UFC or boxing? ›

In order to be the best all-around, too much of their fight has to focus on the ground game to be able to take on challengers from all martial arts disciplines. Boxers box and boxers punch, ultimately taking the crown of hardest punching fighters. But still, MMA fighters pack a powerful punch!

Is UFC safer than boxing? ›

Studies have been done where experts compared the risks of injury in MMA to those in boxing, and they've taken the time to lay out the risks of each sport. According to a study in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, statistically, MMA is safer than boxing.

What martial art wins a street fight? ›

Muay Thai is the number one, undisputed striking art, making it very effective for self-defense and street fights. The art works on clinches, kicks, and other striking factors.

Who is the No 1 martial arts? ›

1. Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee is ranked first among the top 10 martial artists in the world in 2021. Lee Jun-fan (27 November 1940 - 20 July 1973) was a Chinese martial art performer, star, film maker, martial art teacher, and philosopher.

Who is the best fighter of all time? ›

1. Muhammad Ali. The Greatest was not only one of the best heavyweights of all time, he was also one of the most colorful. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times.

What are the 12 weight divisions in UFC? ›

How Many UFC Weight Classes Are There?
Weight ClassMaximum Weight
Featherweight145 lbs (65.8 kg)
Lightweight155 lbs (70.3 kg)
Super Lightweight165 lbs (74.8 kg)
Welterweight170 lbs (77.1 kg)
10 more rows

Does UFC go in order? ›

The biggest type of UFC events is the PPV (pay-per-view) events. They are marked as “UFC “. The number after the “UFC” refers to the chronological order of the PPV event that was held, starting at UFC 1 and going all through the UFC 248 (at the moment the article was written).

How are UFC fights arranged? ›

There is no set logic as to how UFC sets ups fights. UFC is a promotion organization, so they are free to setup any fights they want as long as they get fighters to agree to those fights (which is easily attained by making the right contract).

What weight class is 170 lbs in UFC? ›

The welterweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes: The UFC's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg)

Can you have 12 to 6 elbows in UFC? ›

12–6 elbow strikes are illegal under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, defined as "striking downwards using the point of the elbow". Such bans were justified for medical and safety reasons, due to the possibility of serious injuries to opponents that could result from their use.

How many UFC weight class belts are there? ›

Championship belts are fought for at each weight class under a promotion, with only one belt awarded per class. Each belt is usually contested every time the belt holder fights, and passed to the victor of that fight (see the List of UFC champions for a chronology of UFC title belts).

Are UFC fighters scared before fight? ›

It's all very stressful stuff for even the most hardened of UFC gladiators to endure. Needless to say, nerves can often take the wheel, with fighters finding themselves on the wrong end of severe anxiety attacks. From jittery nerves to outright vomiting, pre-fight stress can manifest in a variety of unpleasant ways.

Is UFC hard to play? ›

UFC 4 is a challenging game to play, similar to its predecessors, and possibly even more difficult to master like a real UFC fighter than EA's Fight Night boxing game series.

Who is no 1 UFC player? ›

Heavyweight
RankFighterLast fight
Event
1 (T)Ciryl GaneUFC 285
1 (T)Stipe MiocicUFC 260
3Sergei PavlovichUFC on ESPN 42
13 more rows

How are UFC fighters paid? ›

The primary way UFC fighters make money is through fights and the paychecks they receive from each. The fighters usually sign a contract for a certain amount of fights for a fixed amount of money each time they step inside the Octagon.

Do UFC fighters talk during fights? ›

Back-and-forth banter from UFC fighters is real. Unlike the WWE, the words aren't given to them to read in front of the camera. They are wholehearted feelings by the fighters. Some may want fighters to just settle things in the Octagon, but trash talk is essential to the UFC.

How many fighting styles are allowed in UFC? ›

The primary fighting styles found in the UFC include wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Karate.

Who is the 185 pound UFC champion? ›

Alex Pereira

What weight class is 186 in UFC? ›

The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes. The UFC's light heavyweight ranges from 186 to 205 lb (84 to 93 kg).

What is the 180 weight class UFC? ›

The middleweight division in mixed martial arts refers to different weight classes: The UFC's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb (77.5 to 84 kg) The Shooto's middleweight class, which refers to competitors between 155 and 170 lb (70.3 and 77.1 kg)

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