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[jrube]

Originally Posted by atj-lucko

What the new weight classes could look like?
The New Weight classes (made-up by me)
Heavyweight - over 210 lbs. to 265 lbs.
Light Heavyweight - over 195 lbs. to 205 lbs.
Cruiserweight - over 185 lbs. to 195lbs.
Middleweight - over 175 lbs. to 185 lbs.
Welterweight - over 165 lbs. to 175 lbs.
Super lightweight - over 155 lbs. to 165 lbs
Lightweight - over 145 lbs. to 155 lbs.

What do you guys think?
I added 2 but A.B.C. might be adding more..

What about the guys between 205 and 210? Do they have to pick between LHW and HW?

[jrube]

Originally Posted by kalebarker

The new proposed system is definitely better. Yes the current system is broken. The difference between a fighter that is a little too big to hit 185 and big LHW can be 20 pounds or more. That kind of difference makes it impossible for some fighters, who have all the talent and skill needed, that have big weight disadvantages to ever be a champ.

I don't see how it is broken.. If you are on the smaller side of your weight division, and really don't need to cut weight to fight in your division, then its time to cut some pounds and go down a weight class...

Lets not forget, we are also seeing fighters go up in weight class, Silva, Penn, possibley GSP, Hendo, Couture did....

I don't think we need to change weight classes for those poor poor fighters that are to wittle for their weight class... COME ON!!! THIS IS MMA... either you hang or you dont...

[travtera]

Originally Posted by leedogg900

as much as new weight classes would be good. i just dont think any organization can afford to do it right now. its hard enough making contenders in a division already. the ufc is the deepest roster in mma, and they even have trouble getting legit contenders sometimes.

once the sport has more fighters, i think this will be more of a possibility.

mma has grown a lot in popularity to watch, but to compete is another thing. the ufc is bringing in guys with 0-0 for the tuf. and guys can legitametly make the ufc by going 5-0 or so, we've seen it many times.

I dont think there is enough quality fighters yet to pull this off. the UFC could do it, it would be tough but i think, but they could do it. I dont think any other org could, if they tried i think it would just be a bunch of mediocare champions and contenders for the most part.

I think you hit the nail right on the head! Outside of the UFC the sport doesn't have enough fighters to support more weight classes yet. I think the time will come eventually. Don't a lot of the smaller shows outside of the big orgs already put on a lot of "catch weight" fights because they don't have enough fighters in each division as it is now? Doesn't really make sense to add more at this time.

[atj-lucko]

Originally Posted by jrube

What about the guys between 205 and 210? Do they have to pick between LHW and HW?

just made a mistake will fix that..

[Bones McGee]

They system isn't perfect right now, but I guess it's good enough there may be a little too much of a gap between the classes IMO, 15 pound sfrom LW to WW is a lot at that weight, especially if you have a dominant fighter who outgrows the postion but is too small to be a force at WW etc... The gap from LW to WW to MW is the same, in boxing the gap increases along with the weight. I don't think more weight classes is the answer, hell I don;t even know if there is a right one.

[kalebarker]

Originally Posted by jrube

I don't see how it is broken.. If you are on the smaller side of your weight division, and really don't need to cut weight to fight in your division, then its time to cut some pounds and go down a weight class...

Lets not forget, we are also seeing fighters go up in weight class, Silva, Penn, possibley GSP, Hendo, Couture did....

I don't think we need to change weight classes for those poor poor fighters that are to wittle for their weight class... COME ON!!! THIS IS MMA... either you hang or you dont...

There are people who weigh around the 205 mark that won't be able to cut to 185 that have to fight people who cut from 230. Look at boxing their weight classes are anywhere from 4 to 8 pounds difference and boxers tweak their bodies to peak at at 4 pund intervals. I'm not saying MMA should adopt that system but I am say that more weight classes means more fighters can fight at their complete potential. Cutting an excess amount of weight or having to bulk beyond your peak muscle mass can slow you down and drain your cardio. I just want to see fighters at their best. That being said the weight are adequate for now until the orgs get enough fighters to support more classes.

[Legend]

I have always liked the idea of adding a few more weight classes. I have always thought they should be laid out like the reporter has them set up in this article. A 15 pound jump is just too much imo.

[DemonPig]

I like it the way it is. Having a super-light-feather-extra-special-chicken champion of something is just plain horrible. We would see too much movement between weight classes, even more cherry picking and watered down belt holders. The only change that I would even consider (if any) is splitting HW into 2 but only if organizations such us UFC get rid of the upper limit of 265lbs. Something like 205 to 230 and 230 and up. Now that we have a more prominent 145 category I think everyone should be satisfied. I haven't heard too many fighters complain about problems with making weight. I also believe that the amount of skill, different styles and techniques, all combine to provide more weapons for a naturally smaller fighter to beat a larger opponent, unlike in boxing when all you do is punch, therefore having more classes is not neccessary.

[Salvy_Mic]

You know what's really odd is that all the old-school boxing people that I know love the fact there are only the current 7 divisions in MMA in America. I myself like the divisions the way they are right now. They are spaced out appropriately, the weights fall on easy to remember numbers, and moving up or down between divisions actually means a whole lot. As it is in boxing at the moment, there is a 7 pound difference between super middleweight (168) and light heavyweight (175), but a 25 pound difference between light heavyweight and cruiserweight (200).

The only thing I could see them adding is a super heavyweight division, but that doesn't mean that big organizations like the UFC would have it. Possibly flyweight could be added as well, 10 pounds or so below the current bantamweight division.

[Frag x 3]

More weight classes means more champions, which means each belt will be worth less, in my eyes.