![]() While the UFC has fewer weight classes than the official rules permit, they don’t allow their upper weight limits to cross into divisions they don’t have. MMA promotions like the UFC are free to pick and choose the divisions they want, but they must abide by the upper-class limits set.Īlso, raising the heavyweight limit means moving into the MMA weight class, super heavyweights, which has a minimum weight limit of 265 lbs and no upper limit. The commissions chose a weight of 265 lbs because men’s Olympic freestyle wrestling has long had an upper weight limit of 265 lbs, and the early life of MMA and the UFC was hugely influenced by wrestling, with wrestlers entering and having success in the UFC and many other MMA promotions. Why Not Raise the UFC Heavyweight Weight Limit?Īgain, it can’t be raised because the upper weight limit of each division is dictated by the Official Unified Rules of MMA. People are more amazed when they see huge, athletic, and ripped heavyweights such as Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane, as opposed to fighters looking overweight and unhealthy. This meant the inclusion of weight class limits and keeping their fighters disciplined and professional by looking lean, ripped, and muscular. Part of this rebranding was to include more rules, and regulations, and to help professionalize MMA and turn it into the sport it is today. The UFC has built an incredible brand over the past 29 years, where they’ve steered away from the stigma attached to them after former US senator John McCain labeled the UFC as ‘human cockfighting’ in 1996. Thirdly, the UFC is the leading MMA promotion, so they want their athletes to look physically imposing, trim, and athletic not fat and lacking discipline. The commissions wouldn’t allow this as it would be deemed unsafe. Without a heavyweight limit of 265 lbs, fighters could potentially be fighting at any weight they please against fighters weighing much less. They shouldn’t be the only weight class who get it easy, while they already have the most leeway.Ī weight limit also stops someone from winning by being much heavier than their opponent. Heavyweights like everyone else have a weight limit as it keeps the division professional, strict with their diet, and facing the toughness of weight cutting. This is a spread of 60 lbs, which is much less restrictive than all other weight classes, which have maximum spreads of 15 lbs, or 16 lbs if counting the extra pound permitted for nontitle fights. They could push through an unlimited heavyweight division if they wanted to, but it wouldn’t make sense for them.Īs it stands, the UFC heavyweight division has the biggest spread of weight, as the lower weight limit is 205 lbs, while the upper weight limit is 265 lbs for title fights and 266 lbs for nontitle fights. Secondly, all UFC weight classes have weight limits, so the UFC believes the heavyweight division shouldn’t be any different. This is because the official rules have many more weight classes, and keep the weight spread in each division to 10 lbs until the cruiserweight division, which is from 205 to 225 lbs, and the heavyweight division jumps to a spread of 40 lbs (225-265). As an example, the UFC heavyweight lower weight limit is 205 lbs, whilst in the official rules, the lower limit is 225 lbs. Interestingly though, MMA promotions have different lower weight class limits than in the official rules. The first and main reason is the Official Unified Rules of MMA dictate the upper weight limit for each division, and MMA promotions knowingly adhere to these limits when taking on a weight class division. ![]() However, there’s more to it than this, and there are three main reasons. Short answer: The reason the UFC has a heavyweight limit is they adhere to the Official Unified Rules of MMA, which dictate the upper weight limit of all MMA weight divisions. Other popular combat sports like boxing and kickboxing don’t have weight limits for the heavyweight division, so why does the UFC? In this article, we’ll look at why there’s a limit, what the upper and lower weight limits are, the history of these limits, and how this weight limit compares to other MMA promotions. Many are unaware of a UFC heavyweight weight limit existing, and before 2001 it didn’t.īut why is there a UFC heavyweight weight limit?
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