The new weight classes go as follows:
Flyweight up to 105
Super Flyweight 105.1 to 115
Bantamweight 115.1 to 125
Super Bantamweight 125.1 to 135
Featherweight 135.1 to 145
Lightweight 145.1 to 155
Super Lightweight 155.1 to 165
Welterweight 165.1 to 175
Super Welterweight 175.1 to 185
Middleweight 185.1 to 195
Super Middleweight 195.1 to 205
Light Heavyweight 205.1 to 225
Heavyweight 225.1 to 265
Super Heavyweight 265.1 and up
With Zuffa owning UFC and WEC they can actually split the weight classes seven and seven. They can still keep the profits from all weight classes within the company, and not have so many titles that no one can keep up. WEC has focused on lighter fighters anyway. Now they can have more of the lighter classes with the new weight classes.
UFC already has a 155 division so they keep the lightweight, or give the lightweight guys the extra ten lbs.
Then maybe they can each have the Super lightweight division. If the UFC takes all up to the Super Heavyweight, which I don't think the Super Heavies would be a big draw for anyone anyway, that should just have seven titles.
Remembering two more champions should be easy enough. The only problem is a champion being dominant in a weight class. Now two new classes are opened up for people that don't want to face the champion, or just flat out couldn't beat them.
I don't have a problem with someone that is championship quality getting a shot at another belt. Someone like Rich Franklin, or Dan Henderson. I would really hate the idea of the Josh Koscheck, Chris Lytle fight being for a title.
I really don't know if this could help or hurt the UFC, EliteXC, or Affliction. I have a few ideas as to how it could help the UFC/WEC pair. And as far as I know EliteXC and strikeforce seem to be in bed together...I really don't know the whole idea behind that, because neither site can keep a website functional.
As for Affliction they could actually become a parent company to another MMA organization, and split the weight classes amongst themselves too. I think 14 weight classes is way too much for any single organization, but seven is just about right.
The massive differences in weight classes (15 lbs here, 20 there) is a lot of weight for a fighter that wants to move up or down. With fighters having to drop or gain so much weight to change weight classes, I think it might have a huge impact on fighters that are dominating their weight classes.
Well there are good and bad issues here. The good could set up more variety in the schedule. The bad could set up champions that are not championship caliber.
I am torn as to how this could change things. I hope all the organizations could figure out the way that works best for them to keep the fights entertaining. I just don't want the MMA boring streak that happened around UFC 15 or so, and continued for years afterward.
Women's MMA could also benefit from the weight classes, because most MMA fans, unless you are truly hardcore, can't name three female fighters. All female MMA revolves around Carrano. With more weight classes comes more opportunities for the women to become household names.
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3 months ago
I also think Affliction could benefit from the Super heavies, since they are concentrating on the heavier fighters anyway, and the UFC seems to have let everyone go from their Heavyweight division.
3 months ago
I agree. As much as I have been a UFC fan throughout the years, I am glad to see an organization that can give the UFC competition in talent and experience as far as contracting great fighters. UFC seems to have a problem with letting Randy go. They are just shooting themselves in the foot.
from 3 months ago
I think as long as Randy isn't able to make another organization money they are happy with it. The problem with the UFC is the match making. They have so many great fighters that are just sitting and waiting to fight.
3 months ago
With 5 current title holders, their is no reason why the UFC can't produce a title fight match up every PPV. If the UFC has 13-14 PPV shows a year, that means every title holder would only fight 2-3 times a year. I think 3-4 is reasonable for any fighter. That means they only fight every 3 to 4 months.
from 3 months ago
You would think so, but instead they have Bisping headlining against Chris Leben. Just because they are in England...Leben better hope he wins by knockout, because if it goes to decision anything short of Killing Bisping would end bad for him.
from 3 months ago
Im wondering too, how with so many good fighters on their roster, how do we keep getting stuck with these "quasi ppv" shows. It pisses me off the no end to see the card for UFC 88 in atlanta, and then know that the next ppv will be bisping vs leben.
HOW IN THE HELL IS THAT A HEADLINER FOR A $49.99 PPV?
from 3 months ago
It seems like they are trying to invite problems due to poor cards, and the obvious corruption of Bisping fighting in England. If you ask me Jason Day was there to take a fall in Bisping's last fight. He was slow moving lethargic, and he didn't even try to mount any offense. Bisping, in a main event, against a tough opponent, in England...Just doesn't seem right.
3 months ago
Chris Leben is one of those UFC special cases. He probably lies in bed with Dana crying about his last loss like he did on TUF. Then Dana feels bad and gives him what he wants. He has a had a bit of a winning streak going on at one point but not enough to be the header on a UFC PPV. I personally want Bisping to win, he doesn't cry and whine about his losses.
from 3 months ago
I think Leben's problem was losing to Koscheck. He was (not sure if he still is) an alcoholic, and he couldn't handle his liquor, so him crying about things kinda didn't surprise me. I think he handled his loss to Florian a lot better, and he is actually improving on his game. He may actually be a considerable force in the UFC someday, but I can personally do without the waterworks.
from 3 months ago
I hope UFC 89 is free... it seems that it might be, or at least it did. Now I'm having my doubts.
from 3 months ago
When they first started fighting overseas on a regular basis it was free...Last time in England I had to cough up cash to watch a UFC in the middle of the day...That was just stupid.
from 3 months ago
Or you can just buy the ppv when they show it again at night... all you have to do is not go online to see who won the fights during the afternoon and it's all set...
from 3 months ago
What's the fun in that? I want to see it unfold. I couldn't keep from going online to see what happened
3 months ago
I'd like to see a super heavyweight class, but other than that, I like the weight classes the way they are.
from 3 months ago
Pretty much. The heavyweight division is a great idea imo.
But a 165 and 195 pound class (the other only real additions for the UFC) wouldn't bother me too much. . .
from 3 months ago
There really is no draw at the Super heavy level. I guess Brock Lesnar can go up to super heavy so that way everyone could say how impressive he looked getting beat again, but at a heavier weight class.
from 3 months ago
Actually what I meant to say is that I like the new light heavyweight/heavyweight set up because of the 225 for guys like Cro Cop or Vera that want to stay at heavyweight but are too small for the bigger guys. But a super heavyweight is fine too. . . although I don't really care about it.
from 3 months ago
Really who is a draw as a super heavyweight? Bob Sapp??? I wouldn't really want to see a PPV where he was headlining for a title shot. Already watched him get beat down so many times, and he is the only real big guy that is a household name, and he's really not even that.
3 months ago
LOL. You made a funny again. I would like to see a super heavy weight too.
from 3 months ago
How can you not make a joke about Lesnar...until he shows some submission defense besides powering out of an armbar that's all he is.
from 3 months ago
I couldn't agree more. He has got a lot learn.
3 months ago
SO what happens when BJ Penn or JSP takes 2-3 weight classes as champion?
from 3 months ago
Then I guess they would have to be busy defending their titles. There needs to be some rule in effect to where they have to defend each of their titles so many times to prevent someone from getting a title then just sitting on it.
3 months ago
Agreed and no quarter should be given to them if they decide to become champion in multiple divisions. As my above post states, a fighter should fight 3-4 times a year especially if they are a champion. If they are champion of multiple divisions, that number should double. Seems like a lot but it looks like they want to bring it on themselves. Fighters in the divisions should not have to wait to get their shot because the champion is recovering from a previous fight in another weight class. Great question Ivan.
from 3 months ago
Yeah that would be a bunch of trash
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