Does the UFC owe it to mixed martial artists to help the sport evolve?

Does the UFC owe it to mixed martial artists to help the sport evolve?

The UFC is the king of mixed martial arts. While going back and forth on a social media post with professional MMA fighter Mike Pope, he referred to them as the NFL of the sport. He is 100% correct.  Despite valiant efforts by Bellator and many other organizations, most mixed martial artists strive to one day earn that contract from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

With that being said, I feel that the UFC owes it to the sport to be the spearhead behind mixed martial arts evolving. Dana White and company could easily sit there and stay status quo,  putting their noses up in the air and continue raking in millions after millions of dollars, but as most every sport has changed, they have adapted, including the premier organizations like the NFL.

It is time for the UFC to acknowledge the problems with large weight cuts, and the health risks involved for many of these world class athletes. The health and well being of the fighter should be a priority. We all know that this mega-rich corporation does not provide health care for their fighters.  Protecting them should be of the utmost importance.

Despite the recent weight class additions by by the ABC to the unified rules of MMA, the UFC is under no mandatory order or sanction to change anything.

THE NEW WEIGHT CLASSES WILL BE:

165 pounds (super lightweight)
175 pounds (super welterweight)
195 pounds (super middleweight)
225 pounds (cruiserweight)

But as previously mentioned no MMA organizations are required to adopt these.  It’s just something the state athletic commissions will allow should the promotions want to implement.

The UFC could use these alterations to promote their brand in numerous ways.  With added weight classes the UFC could put on more super-fights, something they seem to be wanting more of anyway. Fighters could fight in more than one weight class a little easier.  You could have champion vs champion doing battle.  The UFC is a promotion machine.  They could come out of this smelling like roses, looking out for their “employees” and setting the tempo for the regional shows from where they draw their future champions.

No, I have never competed in MMA, but that doesn’t prohibit me from loving the competition and the story of the fighter.  I am a fan of the good stories with happy endings, and not the horrors of the recent turmoil and health risks that we have seen one too many times with fighters trying to make weight. Besides adding  new weight classes, I would like to see the continued development of the PED testing program and a health care program for all fighters under contract.  Below I have listed my ideas for some changes to the current weights for both the men and women.

All feedback, positive or negative is completely welcome!

Current weight classes in UFC: Men

Flyweight 125

Bantamweight 135

Featherweight 145

Lightweight 155

Welterweight 170

Middleweight 185

Light Heavyweight 205

Heavyweight 265 max

Meloni’s proposed new weight classes

Flyweight 125

Bantamweight 135

Featherweight 145

Lightweight 155

Super Lightweight 165

Super Welterweight 175

Middleweight 185

Super Middleweight 200

Light Heavyweight    215

Heavyweight  unlimited

 

Current weight classes in UFC: Women

Strawweight 115

Flyweight  125 ( slowly implementing)

Bantamweight 135

Featherweight 145

Meloni’s proposed new weight classes

atomweight 105

heavyweight (replace anything higher than 135)

My scheme does not completely match with the ABC unified rules weight classes. On the men’s side, I’ve eliminated the 170 and 205 lb class and added the  165, 175, 200, and 215 . (200 and 215) are currently not recognized or sanctioned by ABC, as well as  the heavyweight unlimited. I also added atomweight for women, currently Invicta FC’s lightest class at 105. I’ve also excluded the 145 lb class from the women and made it a heavyweight class after 135.

 

 

author avatar
'Beautiful' Bob Meloni
Commentator for Art of War Cagefighting. More than 15 years experience in the PA/NJ regional MMA circuit. Commentator/post fight interviews. Television/media/event production.  USKA Fight Sports media and production. The story of the fighter is what Bob loves about the sport. From the lowest level, to the highest, he only cares about the two warriors who do battle once the cage doors close. Everything else is secondary. Without their blood, sweat, and tears, he would not be here enjoying every minute.