Why are the weightclasses "bigger" in the MMA?

Because the talent pool isn't as deep in MMA, therefore bigger, and less weightclasses.

 

Eh, something like this.

But, I'd think the main aim is to just have far, far less weight classes. None of this ridiculously stupid **** going on with boxing where you need 20 + weightclasses. That's just idiotic.

The Super Light Fly Welterweight Champion of the World! What? What? No, that's stupid. Let's do away with that nonsense, and in doing so, you have limited weight classes (relative to boxing standards).

 

I think they just wanted to be different from boxing. I actually like how they are bigger than boxing. Imagine 2 strawweight wrestling on the ground

 

I believe that MMA weightclasses will start looking more and more like boxings as the sport gains popularity.

 

Uh, fewer is all well and fine but why are they different?

Why not have "Middleweight" still be 160? And "Lightweight" still 135? I mean, yeah, it's a smaller pool of talent so don't have all the in-between super and junior/light stuff...but why not just the "original 8" boxing divisions, as they were? What the hell is the point of using the same names but having the weights be a stone off?

 

The original boxing weight classes 'fly, feather, bantam, light, welter, middle etc' were drawn up a long time ago, when the average person was quite a bit lighter and smaller than today. I'd say it has something to do with this, that the weight limits for MMA divisions are a good bit higher. I could be wrong but it makes sense to me to have them as they are. In boxing, only people from certain parts of the world fight in the very low weight classes, as many countries don't have enough people of that stature to be competitive.

 

MMA weight divsions make much more sense than boxing. Kind of like the original boxing classes to an extent. There's no need for division every 5 or 7 pounds it's a joke. Boxing orgs probably want to maximize titles, sanctioning fees, and title fights....

 

I think it has something to do with basing its weight classes on the weight classes they have in wrestling or something

 

The talent pool wasn't as big. MMA needed to be different from boxing. MMA orgs pretty much only backed the big guys until recently. They expected more exciting fights from big guys. However after the death of Lewis, Tyson, Bowe and Holyfield, MMA realised like boxing that the small guys is where some serious **** happens.

Oh, how I wish boxing would go back to the original weight classes! Deeper talent pools with more credibility!

 

It's funny when you think Lightweight BJ Penn is a pretty much a middleweight boxer would is generally consider an average sized man!

 

yeah the original boxing divisions were drawn up a long time ago and athletes/people are a couple inches taller and bigger now (not hugely different), but that doesn't explain why boxing has added soo many divisions. they could have simply added a couple of higher classes and spread out the lower ones rather than the b.s. that is there now. i'm certain that boxing is the way it is due to orgs thinking there's more money with more divisions

 

The weightclasses used to be middleweight and heavyweight - so MMA has come a long way! lol

 

Bingo, boxing wanted to capitalize on the money that came with championship fights. The whole thing is ridiculous and only serves to thin out the talent pool.

 

I think they want to avoid using the term Cruiser Weight because it's comes with the bad stigma of being uneventful. No body cares about the Cruiser weight.