Flyweight (MMA)
The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine[1] and by the Association of Boxing Commissions[2] – groups together all competitors 125 lb (57 kg) and below.
The flyweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:
- The UFC's flyweight division with an upper limit of 125 lb
- The Pancrase super flyweight division with an upper limit of 125 lb[3]
- The Shooto bantamweight division with an upper limit of 123 lb[4]
- The Pancrase flyweight division with an upper limit of 120 lb[3]
- The Shooto flyweight division with an upper limit of 115 lb[5]
- The ONE Championship's flyweight limits between 126 to 135 lb (56.8 to 61.2 kg)
Zuffa
On February 3, 2009, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) announced they would be adding a flyweight division set at 125 lb,[6] however the division was never instituted. When the UFC and WEC merged, UFC president Dana White indicated that the Ultimate Fighting Championship would likely add a flyweight division in the future.[7] The UFC flyweight division was officially announced in 2011;[8] with the inaugural champion being decided by way of a four-man tournament that began with the semifinal round held at the UFC on FX 2 event in Sydney Australia on March 2, 2012. Joseph Benavidez won his semi-final at UFC on FX 2 while Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall fought to a draw. Johnson and McCall rematched at UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall on June 8, 2012 with Johnson advancing. Johnson won the first UFC flyweight championship with his win over Benavidez at UFC 152.[9]
Professional Champions
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated on April 23, 2016.
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | September 22, 2012 |  Demetrious Johnson |
24-2-1 (5KO 9SUB) | 8 |
| WSOF | October 17, 2015 |  Magomed Bibulatov |
10-0-0 (1KO 4SUB) | 0 |
| ONE Championship | November 21, 2015 |  Kairat Akhmetov |
23-0-0 (5KO 13SUB) | 0 |
Women:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invicta FC | April 5, 2013 | Barb Honchak |
10-2-0 (1KO 2SUB) | 2 |
See also
References
- ↑ "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
- ↑ "Unified Rules of MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Retrieved 2012-07-15.
- 1 2 Nelson, Chris (2011-06-27). "Pancrase Shifts Weight Classes, Announces 120-Pound Title Tourney". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
- ↑ Winston, Dallas (2012-03-01). "UFC On FX 2: Joseph Benavidez Vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani Dissection". BloodyElbow.com. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
- ↑ Nelson, Chris (2010-07-19). "'The Way of Shooto 4' Quick Results". BloodyElbow.com. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
- ↑ "WEC's long-awaited 125-pound weight class likely to come in early 2010". 2009-08-07.
- ↑ "Dana White announces merger between UFC and WEC". Las Vegas Sun. 2010-10-28.
- ↑ "UFC adds flyweights: Johnson vs. McCall, Benavidez vs. Urushitani at UFC on FX 2". MMAJunkie.com. 2011-12-11.
- ↑ MMAjunkie UFC Champ Demetrious Johnson critical of striking. retrieved 25 September 2012
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