UFC to fight new weight rules
Posted: Sunday July 06, 2008 10:10AM ET
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship started as a made-for-pay-per-view event in 1993, it was a learn-as-you-go proposition since nobody knew what to expect. Over the past few years, in attempting to turn whatever it started out as being to a legitimate sport with unified rules and commission regulation, there have been a new set of growing pains. The more popular the sport gets, the more controversies there seems to be regarding judging criteria, referee stoppages and rule interpretations. Last week, when the Association of Boxing Commissions came up with changes to the unified rules at its Montreal convention, among the many people who had no idea any of this was coming was UFC President Dana White. "There???s going to be a fight," said White when talking about new rules being implemented. "And you know I don't roll over easily." White unequivocally said they have no intention of changing or adding to the company???s current five current weight classes: Lightweight (155-pound maximum); welterweight (170); middleweight (185); light heavyweight (205) and heavyweight (265). The new unified rules include an ill-thought-out 14 different weight classes, particularly the addition of 215 and 225 pound divisions, which makes little sense with the dearth of quality heavyweights from 205 to 265 pounds to begin with. "No, we???re not following that," he said.
Dana White, Claire Greenway/Getty Images
Comments (11)
The one thing about boxing I really hated....too many weight divisions. Every 4-5 pounds a new weight division. Just a complete joke. What they should think about doing is having a "free weight zone" of say 3 pounds between each weight class, and then eliminate about 4-5 divisions. Stream line the weight classes by getting rid of the "super" or the "unlimited" , and just keep it simple :Bant, fly, light, welt, mid, lt. heavy, and heavy..etc. Maybe that would help, who knows.
DEVO (SPECTRE) | 07/06/08, 02:31 PM
Report Offensive CommentI could see adding a couple wieght classes to the 5 current ones. Split the Lightweight class up some with a 140 max class: Raise some limits to a 160 max class, a 175 max cklass, a 185 max class, a 200 max class, a 220 max class and a 255 max class. I could also see adding a superheavyweight class for above 255.
I hate boxing's way to many weight classes.
chapmaja@yahoo.com | 07/06/08, 04:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment5 is too few. 14 way too many.
Lots of room in the middle.
8 sounds good. no?
YODA | 07/07/08, 04:11 AM
Report Offensive CommentWhy? This crazy. I would ruin MMA
Hank Hill | 07/07/08, 01:10 PM
Report Offensive CommentI say start at 120 and run up every 10 lbs, have 18 classes and one called fatarse for the 300+ crowd
FootballGuru | 07/07/08, 01:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment*it
Hank Hill | 07/07/08, 02:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment10lbs is way to much, but I love the Fatarse class
Hank Hill | 07/07/08, 02:05 PM
Report Offensive Commentit's fine as is, they have every weightclass 15 lbs apart except from 185 to 205 and to heavyweight. but its perfect b/c all these guys can easily cut 10 pounds and with the large difference b/t weight classes it creates more competition within the class instead of it being spread out too thin. i think ufc should try to add a featherweight 145 lb division and get faber over in the ufc
VT_Hokies | 07/07/08, 02:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment18 classes??? That is far too many. Then you can't keep track of who is champ where. The UFC and WEC are owned by the came group, so I doubt the UFC will add that weight division and try to take the top star from their oter promotion,
Jason70 | 07/07/08, 09:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment18 classes??? That is far too many. Then you can't keep track of who is champ where. The UFC and WEC are owned by the came group, so I doubt the UFC will add that weight division and try to take the top star from their oter promotion,
Jason70 | 07/07/08, 09:38 PM
Agreed, To many champions. And then other promoter, EliteXC and Afflictions, WEC.....what is that, 54 Champions...........no thanks
Hank Hill | 07/08/08, 04:42 AM
Report Offensive CommentI like the weight classes as they are now. They have a fight a month and you get to see quality fights more or less on most of the cards. My only complaint is I wish they would stop all the marketing and put on another fight. Too much deal time between fights. Not nearly as bad as EliteXC, but a lot of wasted time in a 3 hour PPV.
Jason70 | 07/08/08, 11:27 AM
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