What UFC Weight Class Am I? [TOOL]

As UFC weigh-ins have become some of the most anticipated events in MMA, the weight of a fighter has become an important element in deciding if they are eligible to fight in a specific weight class.

But have you ever wondered what weight class you would be in? And how much weight would you be willing to cut to meet the mark?

Try out our new weight class tool to discover what category you would fit into and who your potential opponents could be.

What Weight Class Would I Be in UFC/MMA? (H2 – add directly after tool)

There are nine weight classes in the UFC, ranging from the UFC Men’s Heavyweights (which range between 205lbs – 265lbs) to the UFC Men’s Flyweights (which range between 115lbs-125lbs).

Developed to make fights fairer and evenly matched, weight classes allow fighters of similar weight to clash at the highest levels, with their skill being needed more than an obvious weight advantage.

If you weighed in at 180lbs and were willing to cut a hard amount at 20lbs to make weight, you could face competitors such as Conor McGregor and Paddy Pimblett. However, if you were in a higher weight category such as 200lbs, and cut a simple amount of weight like 10lbs, you could face fighters in the UFC Men’s Light Heavyweights.

Why Do Weight Classes Exist in MMA?

Weight classes exist in MMA to provide a legitimate and fair competition between fighters whilst protecting the integrity of the sport. Before state sanctioning, MMA fights were often held without approval as the athletic commissions did not allow fights without weight classes.

California officially sanctioned MMA in 2005, using the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that were codified by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission in 2000.

Why Did UFC Add Weight Classes?

UFC first introduced weight classes in 1997 at UFC 12, with the UFC Lightweight and UFC Heavyweight divisions being born. The weight classes were modified at UFC 31 to reflect a more diverse and current standard that you see today.

There was also an issue with legality conditions, as UFC needed to have different weight classes to meet the conditions set by various state athletic commissions across the United States.

What if There Were No Weight Classes in UFC?

Introduced as a means to create fair and equal fights for competitors in UFC, weight classes have allowed all nine weight divisions to grow to a widely successful and legitimate level. Without the weight classes, the range of top-level, championship fighters would decrease drastically as there would likely be a handful of the top heavyweights dominating all of the competition.

Without weight classes, as UFC originally started, fighters in the lightest divisions such as the UFC Men’s Lightweight and below would likely struggle to compete with the size and power of the UFC Men’s Heavyweights. 

This drop in legitimacy and diversity of fights would likely impact UFC’s brand severely as they would consist of only heavyweight fights for the top championships, leaving lighter fighters who focus on skill and speed with no reward or potential championships.

Consequently, heavyweights with the kickboxing arsenal would be expected to thrive in a UFC without weight classes as they could have the skill to win fights with heavier opponents whilst having a size advantage over lighter opposition.