Middleweight (MMA)
Encyclopedia
The middleweight division in mixed martial arts
can refer to a number of different weight classes:
The Middleweight division in the UFC used to be between 186 and 205 lb (84 and 93 kg) now known as their Light Heavyweight
division.
The middleweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 185 lb (84 kg).
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:
- 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 & StrikeforceStrikeforceStrikeforce 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...
's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lbPound (mass)The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
(77.5 to 84 kg) - 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...
's middleweight division, which limits competitors to 185 lb (84 kg) - SRC's middleweight division, which formerly limited competitors to 183 lb (83 kg) now revised to 185 lb (84 kg)
- PancrasePancrasePancrase 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 middleweight division, which formerly limited competitors to 181 lb (82 kg) now revised to 185 lb (84 kg) - 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,...
's middleweight class, which refers to competitors between 155 and 167 lb (70 and 76 kg) - Pride FC's (defunct) middleweight division, which limited competitors to 205 lb (93 kg)
Ambiguity and clarification
For the sake of uniformity, many mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 171 and 185 lb (77.5 and 84 kg) as middleweights. This encompasses the former PRIDE Welterweight division (183 lb / 83 kg) and Shooto's light heavyweight division of the same weight limit.The Middleweight division in the UFC used to be between 186 and 205 lb (84 and 93 kg) now known as their Light Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight (MMA)
The light heavyweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing between 186 and 205 lb . It sits between the lighter middleweight division, and the heavyweight division....
division.
The middleweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 185 lb (84 kg).
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated on August 28, 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... |
October 14, 2006 |  Anderson SilvaAnderson Silva Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history... |
31-4 (18KO 6SUB) | 9 |
| 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... |
September 10, 2011 |  Luke RockholdLuke Rockhold Luke Rockhold is an American mixed martial artist. He is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.Rockhold holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Dave Camarillo.-Early Life:... |
8-1 (1KO 6SUB) | 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,... |
June 19, 2009 |  Hector LombardHector Lombard Hector Lombard is a Cuban-Australian mixed martial artist. Lombard was a Judo Olympian competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, and is a multiple time national champion and world finalist. After 2000, Lombard began pursuing a career in mixed martial arts... |
30-2-1 (16KO 7SUB) | 1 |
See also
- List of current MMA Middleweight champions
- List of UFC Middleweight Champions
- List of Strikeforce Middleweight Champions
- List of Pancrase Middleweight Champions