Should There Be More Weight Classes in the UFC?

In just over two weeks, Rich Franklin will be facing off against Vitor Belfort. For the second fight in a row, Franklin will be fighting at a catchweight of 195 lbs. You can expect the next two or three weeks to be filled with discussion about whether the UFC should add a 195 lb division.

The reason for a 195 lb class was articulated often and enthusiastically by UFC commentator Joe Rogan during the live broadcast of UFC 99, when he faced off against another smallish 205 lb fighter in Wanderlei Silva.

As Rogan said, 195 lbs is almost an ideal weight limit for fighters like Franklin and Wanderlei, as Franklin is very dehydrated at middleweight (185 lbs), and is small in comparison to many of the fighters at light heavyweight (205 lbs).

Wanderlei Silva, who has fought at over 205 lbs for many years, could also probably benefit from a weight class in between 205 and 195.

In fact, there are actually many fighters that could probably benefit from a 195 lb weight class.

First among them is the former UFC champion Rashad Evans, who may now actually feel some incentive to move down should things not go his way against the much-larger Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

But there are other small 205ers like Brandon Vera who could benefit from a lower weight class, while tall and skinny middleweights like Kendall Grove could probably benefit from an extra 10 lbs of muscle.

However, if you’re talking about adding a weight class at 195 lbs, the idea really only makes sense if you add on other weight classes as well. Adding a 195 lb class would create 10 lb gaps on either side, between middleweight, and between light heavyweight. At lower weights, the gaps should then be even smaller.

The current divisions used by the UFC’s parent company, Zuffa, are 135 lbs, 145 lbs, 155 lbs, 170 lbs, 185 lbs, 205 lbs, and 265 lbs. A 125 lb division is also in the works for the WEC.

There is currently a 15 lb gap between the UFC’s lightweight division (155 lbs) and welterweight division (170 lbs), as well as between the welterweight division and the middleweight division. The gap shrinks down to 10 lbs between lightweight and the WEC’s featherweight division (145 lbs).

There are a few reasonable ways in which weight classes could be added, but the job does get a bit tricky.

Halving the gap between weight classes, thus creating divisions at 130, 140, 150, 162.5, and 177.5, 195, and possibly 235 would bring the number of classes from eight to fifteen, which would initially provide a serious challenge to the depth of each individual weight class.

However, there is another possible solution, as the UFC could drop the 170 lb division, replacing it with divisions at 165 lbs and 175 lbs, thus making the separations between all weight classes lower than heavyweight an even 10 lbs.

This solution isn’t really perfect either, though, as it would cause a certain amount of confusion for fighters currently acclimated to the current welterweight division. Larger welterweights like Georges St.Pierre would likely be unhappy to move to a higher weight class as they already have no problem making weight while maintaining their performance levels.

But aside from the ways in which new weight classes would shuffle the current fighting rosters, it is also important to consider weight classes from a business perspective. The UFC is already quite happy with its five weight classes, as it simplifies things, and makes it easy for the casual fan to keep track of the current champions.

There is some concern that adding additional weights could potentially cause confusion as to who the real champions are. As the talent in each division is diluted, the championship belts might also become less prestigious.

Eventually, once the sport of mixed martial arts gains in popularity, the UFC may add more weight classes, but right now, the depth of talent really doesn’t demand it as the UFC’s welterweight and lightweight divisions are already in need of future title contenders.

Perhaps the best argument against the creation of a 195 lb division actually comes in the form of one man: Anderson Silva.

Anderson Silva did not look small even against Forrest Griffin at light heavyweight, yet he could certainly make a potential 195 lb limit, which would likely end the potential title dreams for any would-be 195ers. Ultimately it seems unlikely that adding the 195 lb class would really create any new and valuable opportunities.

If the UFC was going to add new weight classes, the best thing to do would likely be to bring over the 135 lb and 145 lb classes from the WEC, as fighters like Miguel Torres and Urijah Faber have proven to have enough star power to fight in the big show.

A division somewhere between 205 lbs and 265 lbs would also potentially make sense in the future, but now now, as there is currently not an overabundance of heavyweight talent.

As for the next few weeks, if anyone asks you about how Rich Franklin would do in a potential195 lb division, remind them that Anderson Silva would be a monster at that weight.

Unfortunately for Rich Franklin, as long as Anderson Silva is still actively fighting, Franklin will not get close to a UFC belt. He’ll be consigned to superfights against the likes of Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, and Vitor Belfort. Things could be much worse.

By Darren Wong for FightMania.com

Tags: Anderson Silva, Brandon Vera, Dan Henderson, DREAM, Forrest Griffin, Miguel Torres, Rashad Evans, Rich Franklin, UFC, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, WEC