Bantamweight (MMA) explained

The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts refers to a number of different weight classes:

The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight (116–125 lb) division and the heavier featherweight division (136–145 lb).

Ambiguity and clarification

For the sake of uniformity, many American mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 126 and 135 lb (57 and 61 kg) as bantamweights, as it encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage Flyweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). The Association of Boxing Commissions, which governs MMA in the United States, uses the 126-135 standard for "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 was reinstated as the lightweight class.

The bantamweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission[2] and the Association of Boxing Commissions[3] is 135 lb (61.36 kg).

Professional champions

Current champions

These tables were last updated in August 2023.

Men:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCAugust 20, 2023 Sean O'Malley18–1–1 (12KO 1SUB)1
BellatorNovember 17, 2023 Patchy Mix20–1 (2KO 13SUB)1
ONE ChampionshipFebruary 25, 2023 Fabrício Andrade9–2 (5KO 2SUB)0
Rizin FFN/A VacantN/AN/A
Fight Nights GlobalOctober 14, 2022 Sabit Zhusupov15–3 (6KO 3SUB)0
KSWDecember 17, 2022 Jakub Wikłacz14-3-1 (0KO 9SUB)0
Cage WarriorsN/A VacantN/AN/A
ACAMarch 26, 2022 Oleg Borisov26–6–1 (12KO 1SUB)1
Brave CFN/A VacantN/AN/A
Legacy Fighting AllianceJune 16, 2023 John Sweeney13–3 (4KO 3SUB)0

Women:

OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefenses
UFCJanuary 20, 2024 Raquel Pennington16–8 (1KO 4SUB)0
Invicta FCJanuary 18, 2023 Talita Bernardo10–4 (0KO 6SUB)0

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fighters: Rankings .... 2007-02-20. KingoftheCage.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20070216204229/http://www.kingofthecage.com/fighters.html. 2007-02-16. dead.
  2. Web site: Nevada Revised Statutes: `er 467 - Unarmed Combat . 2007-02-20. leg.state.nv.us. https://web.archive.org/web/20070216011235/http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-467.html. 16 February 2007 . live.
  3. Web site: Unified Rules of MMA . ABCBoxing.com . 2012-07-15 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120705135723/http://www.abcboxing.com/unified_mma_rules.html . 2012-07-05 .