200+, 200, 175, 168, 160, 154, 147, 140, 135, 130, 126, 122, 118, 115... Let's assume that MMA has a competitive format like boxing where everyone can potentially fight everybody from any promotion, but all the big fights actually get made and there's only one belt in each division. Who comes on top? My personal opinion: 200+ - Stipe Miočić, basically the current HW division with the exception of huge guys like Brock not having to cut weight any more. 200 - keep in mind that a lot of guys from MMA 185 weight class would have to move up so you'd have Jacare, Romero etc. up in here. I'd actually go with Yoel Romero here as Jon Jones is out, DC might be shot with all the injuries and is getting old and Yoel is just a terrible match up for Rumble. Assuming there is no USADA testing the old fart TRT Vitor might still be creeping around though. This would be by far the most stacked division. 175 - either one of the smaller current MMA MWs or one of the big WWs. It's between Woodley, Mousasi, Wonderboy, Maia. I'll go with Gegard Mousasi here, I think this would be a perfect weight class for him if he would be disciplined about cutting weight as he wouldn't be undersized and could put on striking clinics. There are also Askren and Shields though who would probably be at optimal weight here as well. 168 - I guess most of the current 170 guys can make this but could be a bit deflated and drained. Maybe Jorge Masvidal would fight optimally here. Probably Gunnar and Cowboy too. Khabib and Tony could jump up and snatch the title as well. 160 - Khabib and Tony Ferguson territory. Khabib Nurmagomedov if I had to pick one, probably his optimal weight. 154 - Conor McGregor feasting on bums unless Tony and Khabib decide to drain themselves 1 pound more. 147 - Jose Aldo, perfect weight for him. Although Conor might come down and be even bigger and stronger here. 140 - Dominick Cruz moves up, he's big enough to fight at this weight easily. 135 - Cody or TJ, I'd go with Cody Garbrant. 130 and lower - Demetrius Johnson jumping up and down over weight classes and beating up everybody. I think these weight classes would make more sense and make fights better. More fighters would be able to fight at their optimal weight and we'd see champ vs champ superfights more.
HW: Miocic CW: Cormier LHW: Woodley SMW: Wonderboy MW: Khabib LMW: Ferguson WW: McGregor LWW: Aldo LW: Garbrandt SFW: Cruz FW: and below DJ
I like the weight structure ATM. Boxing has too many champs and too many divisions. UFC has not that issue.
UFC doesn't have nearly enough weight classes. Does someone have to die from weight cutting before they're going to change their ridiculous structure or what? Khabib is just a recent example of a fighter killing himself to make weight. Who wants to see drained people fight? The number of divisions in boxing is just about right IMO, at least from 140 up. Can't really see how boxing would survive with only 8 weight classes and one champion per weight class.
I think more weight classes help the best fights be avoided. Khabib has two choices. Drain down to WW or fight at MW against stronger men. Making in between divisions is one of the worst things that happened in boxing. As is making multiple championships. Boxing has become a farce with the divisions, the belt holders and the multiple promoters who don't like each other so refuse to make fights.
I don't think so, I think in boxing the belts aren't given that much meaning anyway and superfights between champions or top guys from different weight classes happen often in boxing. It would be the same in MMA. Boxing also has a much deeper talent pool, a 145 weight class with nothing until 135 pounds would be just enormous and way too stacked, basically merging two of the deepest divisions in boxing. 170 with nothing until 155 would merge 3 divisions, Lemieux would have to fight guys like Kovalev how does that make any sense? It also makes jumping up a weight class much harder that's why superfights never happen in the UFC. Also, you can't stop the best fighting avoiding to fight the best in the same weight class anyway. If the two fighters don't want to fight each other there's nothing you can do. Multiple championships aren't a problem in boxing, they just make the unification bouts bigger. Being a champion in a combat sport is pretty meaningless on its own anyway as there is no league or tournament type format. You basically just need to beat some guy who held the belt or not even that in many cases. It's just a marketing tool. The resume is what matters.
I disagree with almost every word here. For starters is Lemieux has a natural weight of above 160 he should be fighting above 160 and if he isn't good enough to compete there that's just tough. Jumping up a weight class should be hard, it should be something only the absolute best can achieve, not something that is expected from any half decent career like it is in boxing. Golovkin is often hated on for not jumping up in weight! He is a dominant man in his own weight class and he is expected to jump up, it's bonkers. There is, when there's only one meaningful championship, stripping a champion means something and is an effective deterrent for ducking. Unfortunately today Bisping has the backing of UFC so his matchmaking ATM is incredibly risk/reward based which is something that will hopefully come to an end wants Jacare gets his hand on him. They make the belts meaningless, 4 men claiming to be champion, it's a joke. An absolute joke. Being a champion should mean everything. Bisping is making a mockery of his belt but the second he sparked Rockhold he could claim what no other could, to be the man who just beat the man. People now question who the best is whether it's Jacare or Romero but to prove who is, one will have to go through Bisping first and that is why the belt means everything. The belt should mean everything. In boxing it doesn't.
200+ Micoic 200- Jones (when he gets reinstated) 175- Mousasi, Woodley or Thompson 168- Woodley or Thompson 160- Khabib 154- Mcgregor 147- Aldo or Holloway 140- Garbrandt 135- Garbrandt 130 and under- Mighty mouse
CW would be a deep division with all of the big 185ers migrating up. LHW would be a barren wasteland.
