Bantamweight (MMA)
Encyclopedia
The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts
can refer to a number of different weight classes:
The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight
division and the heavier featherweight
and/or lightweight
divisions.
mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 126 and 135 lb (57 and 61 kg) as Bantamweights, This encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage
Flyweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). The UFC uses the Nevada definition of "bantamweight".
Prior to UFC 31
, 150-pound (68 kg) fighters were known as Bantamweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
. After which, the weight limit was raised to 155 lb (70 kg), and the division became reinstated as the lightweight class.
The bantamweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 135 lb (61 kg).
Women's:
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
can refer to a number of different weight classes:
- The King of the CageKing of the CageKing of the Cage, also known as KOTC, is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, USA.-History:KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features up and coming MMA stars as well as experienced combat fighters....
bantamweight class with upper limit at 145 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(65.8 kgKilogramThe kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
) - The UFCUltimate Fighting ChampionshipThe Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
's & SRC's bantamweight division with upper limit at 135 lb (61.2 kg) - The DreamDREAM (mixed martial arts)Dream is a mixed martial arts organization promoted by former PRIDE FC executives and K-1 promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group. DREAM replaced FEG's previous-run mixed martial arts fight series, Hero's. The series retains many of the stylistic flourishes and personnel from Pride FC...
bantamweight division, which limits competitors with upper limit at 61 kg (134.5 lb) - The ShootoShootoShooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,...
bantamweight division, which suits competitors below 56 kg (123.5 lb)
The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight
Flyweight (MMA)
The flyweight division in mixed martial arts – as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine – groups together all competitors 125 lb and below...
division and the heavier featherweight
Featherweight (MMA)
The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*UFC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb...
and/or lightweight
Lightweight (MMA)
The lightweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:* The UFC & Strikeforce lightweight division with upper limit at 155 lb...
divisions.
Ambiguity and clarification
For the sake of uniformity, many AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 126 and 135 lb (57 and 61 kg) as Bantamweights, This encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage
King of the Cage
King of the Cage, also known as KOTC, is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, USA.-History:KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features up and coming MMA stars as well as experienced combat fighters....
Flyweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). The UFC uses the Nevada definition of "bantamweight".
Prior to UFC 31
UFC 31
UFC 31: Locked and Loaded was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey on May 4, 2001...
, 150-pound (68 kg) fighters were known as Bantamweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
. After which, the weight limit was raised to 155 lb (70 kg), and the division became reinstated as the lightweight class.
The bantamweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 135 lb (61 kg).
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated on October 1, 2011.| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport... |
December 16, 2010 |  Dominick CruzDominick Cruz Dominick Cruz is an American mixed martial artist of Mexican descent, who competes as a bantamweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is the current UFC Bantamweight Champion... |
19-1 (6KO 1SUB) | 2 |
| Bellator FC Bellator Fighting Championships Bellator Fighting Championships is a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. "Bellator", which is Latin for "Warrior", is organized into seasons with each event hosting the rounds of championship knockout tournaments for three-five weight divisions.-History:In its first season,... |
October 14, 2010 | Zach Makovsky Zach Makovsky Zachory Paul "Zach" Makovsky is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division. A professional MMA competitor since 2006, Makovsky has most notably fought in Elite Xtreme Combat and Bellator Fighting Championships where he is the Bellator Bantamweight Champion.-Early... |
13-2 (1KO 5SUB) | 0 |
| Shooto (132 lb) Shooto Shooto is a mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the Shooto Association and the International Shooto Commission. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, as an organization and as a particular fighting system derived from shoot wrestling. Practitioners are referred to as shooters,... |
April 29, 2011 |  Koetsu Okazaki |
8-1-1 (2KO) | 0 |
Women's:
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strikeforce Strikeforce Strikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC... |
July 30, 2011 | Miesha Tate Miesha Tate Miesha Tate is a professional mixed martial artist.She is the current Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion and the current Freestyle Cage Fighting Women's Bantamweight Champion... |
12-2 (3KO 5SUB) | 0 |
See also
- List of current MMA Bantamweight champions
- List of UFC Bantamweight Champions
- List of WEC Bantamweight Champions (defunct)
- List of Pancrase Bantamweight Champions