Fans Need Answers: Bring Back Mixed Weight Fights

The UFC is the most dominating MMA promotion right now, but on the horizon of the rising sun there are two very distinct ones coming forward. These two are of course the World Victory Road and the Dream organizations. They are both compelling and interesting promotions that resemble and contain some of the former spirit of the Pride FC.

Pride FC had at one time been the biggest promotion in the world until apparent Yakuza ties were found within the organization. This of course led to certain key sponsors from pulling out and this eventually allowed for acquisition of it by the UFC.

But their are some things to be missed about Pride that hopefully WVR and Dream will pick up. One that especially comes to mind is mixed weight class fights.

Often these mixed weight class fights, if too much weight was being given up, allowed the lighter fighter to withhold certain rules from the heavier opponent. This led to some of the more interesting and funnier matches in Pride history.

Now, the Japanese have a real sense of what people want in their promotions: good entertainment, big display and effects for entrances, and good matches. It would be nice to see the UFC adapt some of this formula, because we have already seen Affliction pick up some of the pieces with its big half-time show.

But the greatest thing for the UFC to pick up would not so much be the big budget entertainment, but mix weight class matches. It would really fill those unanswered who-is-better-than-whom arguments.

The advantage of these sort of matches is that fighters would not have to move up and down weight classes all the time. They could fight lighter or heavier guys at the weights they feel most comfortable. There would be no excuse for lack of conditioning on a fighter's part because he can come in wherever he feels most comfortable.

The UFC should not, however, get rid of weight classes because it adds structure and legitimacy to the sport. But once in a while it would be nice to throw in a couple of these matches for the fans.