Media Rafael Fiziev Says Creation of UFC 165lb Division "Isn't Just a Rumor, It's Already Happening For Sure"

[Conan the K-9]

This just means they would wake up the 155 division again, as we already have the 165 AbuDhabiweight division existing.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

Fedor is the best.

Combat sports has been pointless since 04

for real though, this is a striking epiphany to me. it has all been pointless since 04. the PRIDE MW tournaments, the HW tournament, the OPEN weight tournament, nothing else has been as good as that since then. the truly best fighters, in the most prestigious tournament ever known to man, the fights, the upsets, the losers, the winner. we will never have a more competitive, worthy match up driven, style of fighting, or tournaments, and we never have. it's all been downhill since then.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

The double champ thing is going to get even more ridiculous

exactly. everyone is pretending that their's just going to be this impossible stable of 165 pounders that are just going to pave new pathways to glory and greatness, when really they are all just fodder until whatever champ closest to their new bullshit weight inevitably decides to "double" champ it up. it's absolutely pointless and is ONLY a PPV tool.

 

[biscuitsbrah]

I think the UFC has been avoiding that because they don’t want guys to bounce between weight classes. As it is it seems 125-135-145-155, guys are able to bounce around as champion and challenge for other titles.
At least 170 and above you know the guys are just way too big and your champion would get smashed by the upper weight class champion

 

[biscuitsbrah]

exactly. everyone is pretending that their's just going to be this impossible stable of 165 pounders that are just going to pave new pathways to glory and greatness, when really they are all just fodder until whatever champ closest to their new bullshit weight inevitably decides to "double" champ it up. it's absolutely pointless and is ONLY a PPV tool.

Yup Leon or Islam takes that title ez

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

Yup Leon or Islam takes that title ez

but, but, but, mUh JaiLan TuRnEr!!!! MuH MiChael ChAndlEr!!!!!!

it's completely asinine, waters down their own product, and serves no other purpose than giving an unpopular champion another accolade to hype up their own bullshit some more. BORING.

 

[CroCopsLHK]

So that means WW would be bumped to 175? Every single WW has to weighin 5 lbs more? Leon has to VACATE his belt, ppv points, title reign, and fight for a new belt?

Or there will be a 5lb difference from one weight class while 10 from the other?

On paper 125-185 all with 10 lb intervals might accommodate some and even create more title fights but the whole process sounds rough as hell

 

[Can’t Handle My Riddum]

There are more guys signed at 155/170 than all other divisions combined. You can easily spread out 155/165/175 and still have similar or better roster depth compared with 185/205.

As it stands today, there isn't roster depth to make 195lbs, and frankly until the revenue split increases, it won't change. Suitably young athletes that size will not choose MMA as their first option. Its 12k show money to get brain damage live on PPV.

This is an excellent post. 190-215 pound athletic guys get funnelled into more mainstream and lucrative sports. In Canada, where I’m from, most guys that size who are naturally athletic have been funnelled into the hockey program. In the states, I’m sure they get funnelled into the other major sports.

A bantamweight doesn’t have that many major sporting options professionally apart from soccer. And soccer is so incredibly competitive globally.

 

[The Accuser]

Dana White on 165 lb division rumors:

Can't say why but this is fuckin hilarious. Esp when you have watched the show some 25 yrs ago.

 

[mmadeewana]

What would thr division be called?and would welterweight shift to 175

 

[Young Calf Kick]

I don't see the necessity, it's just going to water down the promotion. If everybody is champ, nobody is champ. What's next, make a belt for every 5 pounds?

In other words, this is exacty what the UFC would want. They’re already making toy belts (BMF), so why not go all the way and make 25 weight classes?

 

[NoSmilez]

They would have to get rid of 170 and move it to 175. I think there is where most of the resistance is at. I don't think it really dilutes the division. If anything people can compete in between 155 and 165. Matchmaking will be easier and there will be less rank sitting. They will also accommodate for short notice fights. The roster for the UFC is honestly very big.

I don't think this division benefits someone like Fizzy. He is already a little short at 155.

 

[HHJ]

I don't see the necessity, it's just going to water down the promotion. If everybody is champ, nobody is champ. What's next, make a belt for every 5 pounds?

Its like that in Boxing and its not that big of a deal. The problem with Boxing is more the different sanctioning bodies..

In MMA's case the problem is there might not be enough talent to fill all these divisions.

 

[HHJ]

In other words, this is exacty what the UFC would want. They’re already making toy belts (BMF), so why not go all the way and make 25 weight classes?

I dont know if it's what they want. They could have done this years ago. Why now instead of before?

 

[chinarice]

It amazes me how many fans want mma to turn into boxing.

Boxing is absolute garbage and everything mma has adopted from boxing, has severe flaws in MMA

 

[HHJ]

It amazes me how many fans want mma to turn into boxing.

Boxing is absolute garbage and everything mma has adopted from boxing, has severe flaws in MMA

I agree that it doesnt always mix,but Boxing is not absolute garbage. It's flawed just like MMA is flawed,but still worth watching and following.

 

[Goatenstein]

It's the same pathetic whining we've been hearing for well over a decade now. Kevin Lee cried for a special belt for guys who can't succeed at 155 or 170.

 

[Human Bass]

I'm down with it as long as 175 comes with it, and 170 is removed. And add 195 as well. Then it'd be 10 lb symmetry all the way from 125 to 205. I know people will whine about "oh it's make these divisions shallower". That sorts itself out over time and in the end i think it'd be a net gain. Make 175 be welterweight moving forward, have 165 be like Junior Welterweight. And 195 be cruiserweight.

195 would be useless. Just raise mw to 190.

 

[chinarice]

I agree that it doesnt always mix,but Boxing is not absolute garbage. It's flawed just like MMA is flawed,but still worth watching and following.

I can't do it. I grew up watching boxing in the 90s before I discovered mma in the late 90s.

After the RJJs, the DLHs and Tysons of the boxing world retired, I just stopped caring. Also, I couldn't handle the egregious robberies and after watching a lot of MMA, I just find the majority of boxing matches boring.

If they had more Gatti/Ward wars like that, I'd consider watching it more.

 

[HHJ]

I can't do it. I grew up watching boxing in the 90s before I discovered mma in the late 90s.

After the RJJs, the DLHs and Tysons of the boxing world retired, I just stopped caring. Also, I couldn't handle the egregious robberies and after watching a lot of MMA, I just find the majority of boxing matches boring.

If they had more Gatti/Ward wars like that, I'd consider watching it more.

I hear that, I watched boxing in the 90s and it was very frustrating,but in the mid 2000s i got back into it.

There are still exciting fights and fighters,but it takes dedication to find them to start.