The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts

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...

 generally groups fighters between 205 and 265 lb (93 and 120.2 kg).

Although many ambiguities exist within the lower weight classes regarding division naming and weight limits, the Heavyweight division is, for the most part, uniform. The UFC and most other North American MMA organizations such as 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...

, KOTC

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....

, MFC; also abide by this interpretation to their 206-265 lb athletes as Heavyweights. Some international organizations such as Dream

DREAM (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...

 and the former PRIDE start at 206 lb but do not have upper weight limits. Pancrase

Pancrase

Pancrase is a mixed martial arts promotion company founded in Japan in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. Pancrase is taken from Pankration, a sport in the ancient Olympic games. Suzuki and Funaki are particularly skilled in the art of catch wrestling and based the...

's heavyweight division was 199–221 lb (90.3–100.2 kg) before being revised to its current 206–265 lb (93.4–120.2 kg). SRC's heavyweight division was previously 206 and above but has since been revised to 206–265 lb (93.4–120.2 kg).

The heavyweight upper weight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 265 lb (120.2 kg).

Current champions

This table is not always up to date. Last updated on November 13, 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...	November 12, 2011	Junior dos Santos Junior dos Santos Junior dos Santos Almeida, also known as Junior Cigano , is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist and the current UFC Heavyweight Champion. Dos Santos fights in the Heavyweight division, under the tutelage of former UFC and Pride Heavyweight Champion Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and UFC...	14-1 (9KO 3SUB)	0
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	Cole Konrad Cole Konrad Cole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...	8-0 (1KO 2SUB)	0

See also

• List of current MMA Heavyweight champions
• List of UFC Heavyweight Champions
• List of Strikeforce Heavyweight Champions
• List of Pancrase Heavyweight Champions