A case against another UFC division
A new division with an unestablished talent pool would further dilute the UFC’s championship.
Since its inception in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has perpetually promoted its champions (and early day tournament winners) as the baddest men/women on the planet. A UFC championship represents the pinnacle of mixed martial arts, and as such, nearly every fighter is driven to capture its prestige. A major contributor to the UFC’s early success is also what separated it from its boxing counterpart: the significance its championship belts hold.
From 1993 to 1997 the UFC was promoted as a two men enter, one man leaves event. While no physical belt was awarded to the tournament winner, there was a clear consensus of who the baddest SOB in town was. In 2001, the New Jersey State Athletic Commission implemented a five (5) weight class system (lightweight to heavyweight) which the UFC adopted with open arms. In the years to follow the UFC would become one of the most recognized sports franchises in the world, proving the effectiveness of this model. Having five (5) established champions made it easy for hard-core and casual fans alike to follow the sport, and familiarize themselves with each champion.
Compare this to boxing’s model of seventeen (17) weight classes. With four (4) possible champions per weight class (WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF), it can be challenging for even the most knowledgeable boxing fan to name every active champion.
A decade after the 5 weight class system was implemented, the UFC purchased the WEC in 2010 and added 2 new weight classes (bantamweight & featherweight). Since this purchase the UFC has, on average, added one new weight class every year, moving from five (5) weight classes in 2010 to eleven (11) in 2016.
This is not to say that having more weight classes is bad for the sport. The implementation of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions back in 2010 has been highly successful and has given a platform to stars like Jose Aldo, Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber, Cody Garbrandt, TJ Dillashaw, Chan Sung Jung, and PPV king Conor McGregor. However, the reason these divisions are successful is that a deep talent pool existed before they were put into place. In order for a division to experience long-term success, a talent pool needs to be first established, and not built around a single fighter.
The addition of a women’s flyweight division would add a twelfth (12) weight class to the UFC, and while this is likely seen as an opportunity to promote the next Ronda Rousey, a new division with an unestablished talent pool would further dilute the UFC’s championship. Add to this the recent influx of interim belts, many champions picking and choosing money fights, and in some cases having the perceived champion sitting on the sidelines – the championship belt, like boxing, may be beginning lose its allure.
Wade Hamilton is an avid follower of everything mixed martial arts. Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada he is an especially keen observer of the Canadian MMA scene. If you liked this article, follow him on Twitter.