Why are the weightclasses "bigger" in the MMA?

I agree completely. There are far too many weight divisions in boxing with only 4 pounds separating some of the lower classes. In terms of number of divisions, I think the original 8 were just fine. What boxing could have done is increased the wight limit for certain divisions as people became larger in stature, but all of the intermediary divisions are just a joke. They've diluted it so much, and together with amount of bull**** organizations, we very rarely get to see the best fight each other anymore.

It speaks volumes when you see the amount of hype when two big names fight each other, whereas this should actually be the norm.

 

Its historical. Boxers of yesteryear were alot smaller. If you were a 200lb plus heavy like the Galveston Giant who was barely 200lbs you were considered huge. The divisions over a hundred years havent changed much other than the introduction of the sub divisions to allow fighters to hydrate better. Cruiserweight was added and has changed accordingly as fighters have got bigger from 190lbs to 200lbs. Naturally fighters in comparison to yesteryear have better diets and thus reach their genetic potential hence the reason for the bigger divisions in MMA because its a newer sport.

 

The only problem I see with this is that, like boxing, some guys are just not fit for a weightclass they are fighting in.

If I'm not mistaken, Rumble Johnson consistently squeezes himself to make 170 (sometimes coming in at 175) and he would probably be in disadvantage at 185.

If there was a MMA version of jr. middle, probably 177 lb limit, Johnson would be in a much healthier situation.

Just my two cents.

 

Whats gay about UFC/StrikeForce is that they have a limit in Heavyweight(265). So dumb. If you want to fight at heavyweight you should weight whatever weight you want/feel comfortable at, not a weight that demands you to weigh so and so pounds.

 

Thats was a ruling by Nevada State. PRIDE never had a ceiling limit on its heavyweight divisions. Heavyweights were just that .. heavyweights.

 

Rumble would be a big 185.
He is a gigantic 170lbs.