Chiesa: Why the UFC needs a 165 division
Michael Chiesa: “It’s overpopulated at 55. You start that weight class, don’t even sign anybody. Just see who moves around – who comes down, who comes up.”
The culture of extreme weight cutting is the most dangerous regulatory issue in mixed martial arts. Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission has created a 10 Point Plan to fix the deadly problem. It works. The ABC medical committee supports it. The ABC has adopted it. The UFC supports it and will continue to adopt further parts of it.
One of the changes is the addition of new weight divisions; UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky has written a letter in support of new weight classes. However, they are not one of the steps that been implemented to date.
There would additional weight classes added will be at 165, 175, 195 and 225 pounds, and the removal of the 170 pound division. Supporters of the plan include former UFC welterweight and current lightweight Michael Chiesa. ‘Maverick’ appeared recently on Covering the Cage’s Facebook Live show, and proselytized for a new division at 165.
“Do you think there will be a 165 division at some point soon?” asked host Adam Hill, as transcribed by Heidi Fang.
“I hope so,” replied Chiesa. “Because I’m getting tired of cutting weight. … You look at some of the guys at 170 and my skill set – my skill set that I have, from a technical standpoint – I can beat anybody between 55 and 70, maybe even beyond that.
“But you know, sometimes size and power can overrun technique sometimes. And I see some of these guys, like, look at Darren Till, he’s a monster. You know what I mean? Do I think I can beat him? Yeah. But, he might be a little too big for me. So 165 would be a perfect fit for me. I’ve got the frame, I’ve got the power, you know, and I think it’s good to just kind of break things up. We’re overpopulated at the lightweight division anyway.
“If you look at the roster, it’s overpopulated at 55. You start that weight class, don’t even sign anybody. Just see who moves around – who comes down, who comes up. There’s your weight class. There’s your division.”
Unfortunately, most athletic commissions are apparently waiting for a high profile death, unconvinced by the lesser known deaths, and the endless series of hospitalizations and other major health problems.
Chiesa fights former lightweight champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 223 on April 7, 2018.
“Everybody thinks that Anthony doesn’t have it anymore, but I’m not one to believe that,” said Chiesa. “This is a guy that has fought the top of the heap his whole career and you know, yea, he might be on a 2-5 skid in his last seven fights, but let’s look at who he’s fought. I mean, he’s got a win over Jim Miller, he lost to Poirier, he lost to Max Holloway, he lost to Rafael dos Anjos, Eddie Alvarez. This is a very prestigious lineup of people we’re talking about. We’re talking about three of the people I just named have all had a gold strap around their waist at one point, if not currently.
“I’m not looking past the guy at all. I have a very tall order ahead of me. … I still think he has it, but I think he’s had his time. I think our trajectories are going in different directions. I admire him as an athlete, he’s a guy I watched coming up. But he’s not beating me on April 7th.
“I know I’m going to be a lightweight champion and it’s going to be in the UFC and this is just part of the process is getting past Anthony Pettis. Easier said than done, but I know I have what it takes to get the job done on April 7th at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, I will beat Anthony Pettis.”
