MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[mmafanatic087]

Check out the following post made by UFC Commentator Joe Rogan at the underground forum:
I think there’s a lot of guys that have to suck too much weight to make one class, but they’re not quite large enough for the next class up. As this sport continues it’s crazy rise in popularity, I keep thinking that there’s going to come a time where we’re going to have to add some weight classes. Maybe go once ever 10 pounds, change 70 to 75, add a 65 and a 95. I think if something like that would be implemented we would get even more exciting championship bouts because we can have guys going up or down to challenge the the dominant guy in the next class.

I think there’s a lot of guys that would prefer to fight closer to their natural weight, and there are some weight class gaps that are just too big in my opinion, especially the gap between 155 to 170 and 170 and 185. That just seems to be a really huge difference to me. A perfect example of the gigantic size difference would be Diego Sanchez and Trevor Prangley. Trevor is ing HUGE. That guy is a monster, the top end of what a 185 can be, where as Diego is one of the physically smaller guys competing at 170. If you looked at those two next to each other, it seems to me that there’s room for more categories. They seem more than one weight class apart.

Now, there’s the other argument; that adding more weight classes would weaken the championship’s significance because there would be more of them, and I can see that argument too. I think boxing might have a few too many classes, but they’ve got them every few pounds. I don’t think adding 2 or 3 more weight classes would hurt.

link http://mmafightline.com./news/2007/107/ufc_304551.shtml

[whitey64]

As of right now I think the weight classes are perfect maybe in a couple years time when there are even more great fighters then its would be a time to look at adding more.

[maxp84z]

I think the weight classes are perfect the way they are now. Boxing has way to many weight classes its a joke. I dont want it to turn out like that. You end up having way to many champions it becomes silly. We'll end up seeing guys only 4lbs heavier fightin in different divisions no thanx

[colin]

I dont think the ufc will make a change. They are making enough money as it is, and besides if the fighters want to fight they will have to make weight regardless due to the rules.

But i wouldnt mind a featherweight division.

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by whitey64

As of right now I think the weight classes are perfect maybe in a couple years time when there are even more great fighters then its would be a time to look at adding more.

Agreed...

And besides too many weight classes = too many champions. Look at the MW division.. that is proof alone that we don't have too many weight classes. MW is sandwiched by two hot divisions and they have no one.

[halozero]

i couldn't agree more--there are talented people in japan and over here well under 155--and the big gaps between 155-185 could certainly do with more than 3 classes. perhaps even split up the HWs a bit.

[blah]

i don't think more weight classes in the ufc is a good idea, mainly because championship belts won't seem as important or grand due to a dilution due to more weight classes, as well as the problem of fighters not wanting to drop or move up. there's no guarantee that the pool of fighters will redistribute themselves evenly into the new weight classes. not only will that create size differences in terms of the number of fighters in each class, but the better fighters may not redistribute evenly, leaving some weight classes possibly without both a sufficient number of fighters, and a sufficient amount of talent.

[jlruthven84]

The weight divisions are perfect the way they are now; I can't speak for a few years from now, obviously, but adding more weight classes any time in the near future would water down the UFC somewhat.

[Afro]

How can anyone think that the weight classes are perfect? for us ya its perfect, cuz its not confusing but in reality.. the weight classes are a joke, 15 lb difference between LHW and HW, 20 lbs between LHW and MW, 15 between WW and MW, and another 20 between LW and WW.. simply put.. more weight classes = every fighter has a chance to fight at there best weight, the weight class system shows no love to the natural 200 lb fighters, the natural 195 lb fighters, etc etc.. Its perfect when every fighter can fight at the perfect weight class for there body type, and height, etc.. and we would never have to hear anything about an uneven weight advantage, we would have a lot less trouble with fighters making weight, and we would have a lot less fighters gassing before a fight cuz they had to cut weight. Its just all-around healthier to add more weight classes.

[Krazikarl]

Yeah, until MW gets filled out I dont think that adding any more weight classes in that area is a good idea. 170 is good as it is not, but if you did something like taking fighters from that area and taking fighters from MW and make 3 weight classes, you end up with a few very weak divisions I think.