The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) meticulously categorizes its fighters into 12 weight classes from the Heavyweights to the Strawweight.
UFC make sure that combatants of similar size and power compete against each other, resulting in a more balanced playing field.
This encourages fair play and discourages larger, heavier fighters from overwhelming smaller opponents. Weight classes for UFC fights greatly lower the chance of injury or even death.
Mismatches and related health dangers are reduced by matching boxers of equal weight. It helps fighters to develop fighting styles and methods that are exclusive to their weight class.
This variety results in more entertaining and dynamic battles that display a broader spectrum of combat talents and techniques. Weight is an important factor in UFC fights, influencing many components of a fighter's performance and final outcome.
Heavier fighters have more muscular mass and create more force behind their punches, providing them an edge in punching power, kicking power, and takedown ability.
Heavier fighters typically have a higher body mass to absorb attacks and sustain punishment, letting them take more punishment and potentially rebound from knockdowns or submissions.
The UFC Weight Classes are Strawweight, Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light heavyweight, and Heavyweight. They are all explained below.
Strawweight - 115 Pounds
The strawweight division is one of the lightest weight classes in UFC, having a maximum weight limit of 115 pounds or 52 kilograms for both non-title and title fights.
Carla Esparza was the inaugural champion of the strawweight class, which debuted in 2014.
Former strawweight champion Carla Esparza fought Rose Namajunas to become the first champion in 2014. Since then, the division has produced a number of UFC legends, including Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Rose Namajunas, and a few others.
Strawweight athletes receive a one-pound weight freedom for non-title contests, meaning they can weigh up to 116 pounds. Athletes must weigh 115 pounds or less to compete for the title.
Weight Range:
- Minimum weight: None
- Maximum weight: 115 lb (52.2 kg, 8.2 st)
Current Champion:
- Yan Xiaonan is the last fighter to win the UFC women's strawweight champion, known for her well-rounded skills and ability to adapt to different opponents. The championship is currently vacant.
In any major MMA, there is no current male strawweight champion as the flyweight division is the lightest weight division for male fighters.
Flyweight - 125 Pounds
The flyweight division is the first of three weight classes to feature both a male and female division.
In 2023, both divisions saw new champions, with Alexa Grasso capturing the women's title at UFC 285 in March and Alexandre Pantoja claiming the men's title at UFC 290 in July.
Non-title matches allow flyweight athletes to weigh up to 126 pounds, but title fights demand athletes to weigh 125 pounds or less.
Weight Range:
- Minimum weight: 115 lb (52.2 kg; 8.2 st)
Maximum weight: 125 lb (56.7 kg; 8.9 st)
Current Champions:
- The current UFC men's flyweight champion is Alexandre Pantoja.
- The current UFC women's flyweight champion is Alexa Grasso.
Bantamweight - 135 Pounds
The bantamweight divisions, which have both a men's and a women's division, have produced some of the most renowned athletes and great battles of this generation.
Ronda Rousey, a leader of women's MMA, established her legacy as the division's first champion, compiling six successful title defenses so far.
Bantamweight athletes can weigh up to 136 pounds in non-title matches, but only 135 pounds in title fights.
The UFC bantamweight division is known for its fast-paced action and outstanding athleticism. Former champions Dominick Cruz, TJ Dillashaw, and Cody Garbrandt have all left their mark.
Aljamain Sterling, the current bantamweight champion, is known for his grappling skills and unconventional striking.
Weight Range:
- Minimum weight: 125 lb (56.7 kg; 8.9 st)
- Maximum weight: 135 lb (61.2 kg; 9.6 st)
Current Champions:
-
The current UFC Men's Bantamweight Champion is Sean O’Malley.
- The recent winner of the UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion is Amanda Nunes.
Featherweight - 145 Pounds
Featherweight is the final weight class to have both a men's and a women's category.
The UFC featherweight division, which debuted in 2010 after absorbing the WEC's 145-pound weight class, has hosted some of the most anticipated fights in UFC history, including a historic title fight between opening division champion José Aldo and Irish sensation Conor McGregor.
On the men's side, Alexander Volkanovski currently owns the championship, while the now-retired Amanda Nunes is the most recent champion on the women's side.
Non-title contests allow featherweight athletes to weigh up to 146 pounds, but title fights need athletes to weigh 145 pounds or less.
The featherweight division has created some memorable moments and rivalries since it is home to some of the fastest and most technical athletes in the UFC. José Aldo, Max Holloway, and Conor McGregor have all held the title and left their imprints on the sport.
Alexander Volkanovski, the reigning champion, has demonstrated his striking and grappling abilities while defending his title against many of the division's top rivals.
Weight Range:
- Minimum weight: 135 lb (61.2 kg, 9.6 st)
- Maximum weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg,10.4 st)
Current Champions:
- The current UFC men's Featherweight champion is Alexander Volkanovski.
- The current UFC women's Featherweight champion is Amanda Nunes.
Lightweight - 155 Pounds
The UFC lightweight division, known as one of the deepest in terms of talent, has been the focus of attention in recent years with the retirement of UFC Hall of Famer and former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev defeated Charles Oliveira in their lightweight title match at UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev, a title that was vacant owing to former champion Oliveira missing weight by half a pound i.e. 155.5 before his championship match against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.
Non-title contests allow lightweight athletes to weigh up to 156 pounds, but title fights require athletes to weigh 155 pounds or less.
The UFC lightweight division is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and talented divisions in the UFC. This weight class has consistently given intriguing and high-stakes confrontations, including famous athletes such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, and BJ Penn.
Islam Makhachev, the current UFC lightweight champion, is widely regarded as one of the top pound for pound UFC fighters in the sport.
Weight Range:
- Minimum weight: 145 lb (65.8 kg; 10.4 st)
- Maximum weight: 155 lb (70.3 kg; 11.1 st)
Current Champions:
- The current UFC men's Lightweight Champion is Islam Makhachev.
Welterweight - 170 Pounds
The first weight class to climb up 15 pounds is the welterweight division, which has experienced an increase in competitors recently.
Even if the weight difference between the two classes is greater, welterweight fighters are still limited to 176 pounds for non-title fights, while fighters vying for titles must weigh no more than 170 pounds.
In the main event of UFC 278 in 2022, Leon Edwards knocked out former UFC welterweight weight champion and former pound-for-pound No.1 Kamaru Usman in the fifth round.
With strong wins this fall, Khamzat Chimaev and Belal Muhammad have also cemented their places in the Top 5.
Despite a wider weight difference between categories, welterweight athletes can only weigh in at 176 pounds for non-title bouts, whereas title matches need athletes to weigh in at or under 170 pounds.
Weight Range:
Minimum weight: 155 lb (70.3 kg; 11.1 st)
Maximum weight: 170 lb (77.1 kg; 12.1 st)
Current Champion:
The current Welterweight men's champion is Leon Edwards.
Middleweight - 185 Pounds
In the main event of UFC 293 in Sydney, Sean Strickland won the UFC middleweight championship by defeating Israel Adesanya in a demanding five-round fight.
Middleweight fighters may weigh up to 186 pounds in non-title fights, but they must weigh 185 pounds or less in title fights.
Some of the best and most versatile fighters in the sport, like Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman, and Anderson Silva, have competed in the middleweight class of the UFC.
As the current middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya captivates spectators worldwide with his amazing skill and creative style.
Weight Range:
Minimum weight: 170 lb (77.1 kg; 12.1 st)
Maximum weight: 185 lb (83.9 kg; 13.2 st)
Current champion:
The current middleweight men's champion is Israel Adesanya.
Light heavyweight - 205 Pounds
The light heavyweight class has included one of the best UFC fighters ever, Jon Jones, who made a 20-pound jump from middleweight.
Between 2011 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020, "Jones" successfully defended the light heavyweight title eleven times. At UFC 295, Alex Pereira won the title by Knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round.
Light heavyweight fighters are allowed to weigh up to 206 pounds in non-title contests, but they must weigh no more than 205 pounds in title fights.
Weight Range:
Minimum weight: 185 lb (83.9 kg; 13.2 st)
Maximum weight: 205 lb (93.0 kg; 14.6 st)
Current champion:
The current champion of Light Heavyweight is Jamahal Hill.
Heavyweight - 265 Pounds
The UFC heavyweight division has the largest flexibility of any division, with participants frequently weighing in several pounds under the minimum limit.
For example, at UFC Paris in September 2022, Ciryl Gane weighed in at 247 pounds for his heavyweight match, while his opponent, Tai Tuivasa, weighed in at the heavyweight non-title limit of 266 pounds.
Some heavyweight fighters want to have this weight disparity in order to get a modest speed or strength advantage, depending on their skill set and fighting style.
Heavyweight athletes can weigh up to 266 pounds in non-title contests, whereas title fights require athletes to weigh in at or under 265 pounds.
The UFC heavyweight class features some of the sport's most powerful and hard-hitting athletes. Randy Couture, Stipe Miocic, Brock Lesnar, and Cain Velasquez are among the legends who have competed in this weight class.
Jon Jones is the current UFC heavyweight champion, having risen from the light heavyweight category and defeated Ciryl Gane via first-round submission to solidify his place as the greatest UFC fighter of all time.
Weight Range:
Minimum weight: 205 lb (93.0 kg; 14.6 st)
Maximum weight: 265 lb (120.2 kg; 18.9 st)
Current champion: The current champion of UFC heavyweight is Jon Jones.
