Like all combat and combat sports, the UFC has several weight classes called divisions.
As we know, the main goal of weight classes is to create a level playing field and allow relatively similar opponents to compete without one having a clear advantage over the other.
UFC Weight Classes (Divisions):
- Straw weight 52.2 kg (115 lbs.)
- Flyweight 125 lbs (56.7 kg)
- Bantam weight 61.2 kg
- Feather weight 65.8 kg (145 pounds)
- Lightweight: 70.3 kg
- Superstufe 74,8 kg (165 lbs)
- Welterweight 170 pounds (77.1 kg)
- Super welterweight 79.4 kg
- Average weight 185 pounds (83.9 kg)
- Super middleweight 88.5 kg
- Light weight 93.0 kg (205 lb)
- Cruisergewicht 102,1 kg (225 lb)
- Heavy 265 pounds (120.2 kg)
- Super Hard Unlimited
In this article I will introduce you to the UFC weight classes and all the champions in each. There aren't many, 8 for men and 4 for women, but that doesn't make it any less interesting.
In this article show
How many UFC weight classes are there?
Why are there UFC weight classes?
When did the UFC get the weight classes?
UFC Men's Weight Classes (Divisions)
UFC Women's Weight Classes (Divisions)
UFC tournaments and the Superfight Championship
What is the UFC weighing policy?
What Happens When a UFC Fighter Loses Weight?
What about weight loss in the UFC?
Interesting UFC weight class numbers and stats
Weighing up to 165 pounds in the UFC: the future?
How many UFC weight classes are there?
To understand UFC weight classes, we need to understand how MMA weight classes work in general. Since it would be pointless for us to describe all the categories, I present them to you in a table that is self-explanatory:
| weight class | Maximum weight |
|---|---|
| Stroh | 115 pounds (52.2 kg) |
| flyweight | 125 pounds (56.7 kg) |
| bantamweight | 135 pounds (61.2 kg) |
| Peña | 145 pounds (65.8 kg) |
| Luz | 155 pounds (70.3 kg) |
| super live | 165 pounds (74.8 kg) |
| Welterweight pesos | 170 pounds (77.1 kg) |
| super welterweight | 175 pounds (79.4 kg) |
| medium weight | 185 pounds (83.9 kg) |
| super medium | 195 pounds (88.5 kg) |
| light heavyweight | 205 pounds (93 kg) |
| Cruiser weight | 225 pounds (102.1 kg) |
| heavyweight | 265 pounds (120.2 kg) |
| very difficult | none |
Why are there UFC weight classes?
The main goal of the UFC weight classes is to create a level playing field and allow relatively similar opponents to compete against each other without having a clear advantage.
When did the UFC get the weight classes?
The UFC weight classes were first introduced in 1997. UFC 12 introduced the first two UFC weight divisions, the UFC Lightweight Division and the UFC Heavyweight Division. At UFC 31, the weight classes were changed to reflect current MMA standards.
UFC Men's Weight Classes (Divisions)
Well, as you'll soon see, the UFC doesn't have a division for each of the weight classes shown in the chart.
The UFC has only eight divisions, which correspond to eight of the above categories.
The oldest is the Heavyweight Division, formed in 1997.
The light heavyweight and welterweight divisions soon followed in December 1997 and 1998 respectively, with the lightweight and middleweight divisions being introduced in 2001.
The most recent divisions are Bantamweight and Featherweight, introduced in 2010, and the Flyweight division, introduced in 2012.
Historically, Mark Coleman was the first UFC weight class champion to win the heavyweight belt in 1997.
UFC Women's Weight Classes (Divisions)
The competition format for women is newer and much smaller. Women compete in only four categories, three on an equal footing with men and one specifically for women.
The oldest of these is the women's bantamweight division, which won its first champion in late 2012.
In late 2014, the women's strawweight division was formed, while the remaining two divisions, women's featherweight and women's flyweight, began in 2017.
then the firstUFC Women's ChampionNot in any category was American Ronda Rousey, who won the women's bantamweight title in December 2012.
UFC tournaments and the Superfight Championship
Throughout its existence, the UFC has also held numerousopen weighttournaments
Unlike the more popular categories, outright tournaments do not have weight restrictions, meaning anyone can participate and there can be significant differences in fighters' physiques, something we discussed at the beginning of this article.
Of course, this can lead to unfair situations, but if you know the rules beforehand and accept them, the problem becomes a little clearer.
The UFC already had two Openweight competitions, only one of which was active. The now-defunct Superfight Championship was held only twice, in 1995 and 1996, and was designed as a tournament to determine the ultimate UFC champion.
Ken Shamrock won the first edition while his 1995 challenger Dan Severn became the tournament's second and final winner.
UFC tournaments have been held irregularly since 1999 (until then they were annual events, sometimes more than once a year), only two tournaments have been held since then, one in 2003 and the last in 2012. .
These tournaments were originally Openweight, but have been associated with weight classes since UFC 12 in 1997.
Of course, I bring you a list of everyone and the winners:
| competition | Data | division | winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC 1 | 12. November 1993 | none | Royce Gracie (BRA) |
| UFC 2 | March 11, 1994 | none | Royce Gracie (BRA) |
| UFC 3 | 9. September 1994 | none | Steve Jennum (USA) |
| UFC 4 | December 16, 1994 | none | Royce Gracie (BRA) |
| UFC 5 | 7. April 1995 | none | Dan Severn (EUA) |
| UFC 6 | July 14, 1995 | none | Oleg Taktarow (RUS) |
| ufc 7 | 8. September 1995 | none | Marco Ruas (BRA) |
| O Most High | December 16, 1995 | none | Dan Severn (EUA) |
| UFC8 | February 16, 1996 | none | Don Frye (United States) |
| ufc 10 | July 20, 1996 | none | Mark Coleman (USA) |
| UFC 11 | 20. September 1996 | none | Mark Coleman (USA) |
| O Highest Highest 2 | December 7, 1996 | none | Don Fyre (United States) |
| UFC12 | February 7, 1997 | heavyweight | Vitor Belfort (BRA) |
| Luz | Jerry Bolander (USA) | ||
| UFC13 | 30. May 1997 | heavyweight | Randy Couture (USA) |
| Luz | Guy Mezger (USA) | ||
| UFC14 | July 27, 1997 | heavyweight | Mark Kerr (USA) |
| Luz | Kevin Jackson (USA) | ||
| UFC15 | 17. October 1997 | heavyweight | Mark Kerr (USA) |
| ultimatives Japan | December 21, 1997 | heavyweight | Kazushi Sakuraba (JAP) |
| UFC16 | March 13, 1998 | Luz | Pat Miletich (USA) |
| UFC17 | 15. May 1998 | medium weight | Dan Henderson (USA) |
| UFC23 | 19. November 1999 | medium weight | Kenichi Yamamoto (JAP) |
| ufc39 | February 28, 2003 | Luz | BJ Penn (EU) / Caol Uno (JAP) – empathisch |
| UFC 41 | |||
| UFC without special effects | 22. September 2012 | flyweight | Demetrius Johnson (USA) |
| UFC without special effects 2 | |||
| UFC152 |
What is the UFC weighing policy?
No fighter may weigh more than the cap of their respective division at the weigh-in.
What Happens When a UFC Fighter Loses Weight?
If a fighter is "losing weight" for a title fight, thennot eligible to win the UFC beltbe contested (even if you win the battle).
In addition, a fighter who has lost the weight mustGive 20% of the fight scholarshipto the opponent.
What about weight loss in the UFC?
Because the topic of weight loss in the UFC (and other martial arts) is complex, I wrote an article explaining itHow UFC fighters lose weightthorough.
Interesting UFC weight class numbers and stats
- Most UFC fights by weight class
- Longest UFC winning streak by weight class
Weighing up to 165 pounds in the UFC: the future?
There has been a lot of talk lately about the UFC introducing a new weight class capped at 165 pounds.
The reason is that the difference between lightweight (155 pounds) and welterweight (170 pounds) is "too big". Some fighters are too tall for the 155 pound mark, but they are also short compared to some fighters in the 170 pound division.
The large pool of talent from the UFC's lightweight and welterweight divisions favors the creation of a new 165-pound weight class. Some of the fighters that could fit here are Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Colby Covington, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Burns and many others.
According to Dana White, the UFC has no plans to open this new weight class. [1]