Lansberg coach: Cris Cyborg was 170 in Octagon

Men and women use the same weight divisions in mixed martial arts:
Atomweight -105 lb
Strawweight -115 lb
Flyweight -125 lb
Bantamweight -135 lb
Featherweight -145 lb
Lightweight -155 lb
Welterweight -170 lb
Middleweight -185 lb
Light Heavyweight -205 lb
Heavyweight -265 lb
Super Heavyweight 265 lb+

Weight classes exist for both safety and fairness. Larger fighters hit harder, smaller fighters are less able to absorb strikes, so weight divisions make a dangerous sport safer. And there is an old, correct rule in combat sports – A good big man will beat an equally good small man. It isn’t fair to match fighters of radically different size unless there is so vast a gulf in their skill levels that the larger fighter probably shouldn’t be fighting professionally.

If fighters are competing at radically different weights, then the rules are not working and have to be refined. Lina Lansberg’s coach, UFC vet Akira Corassani, reports that Cris Cyborg told his fighter that she stepped into the Octagon on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 95 weighing 77 kilos. That is 170 pounds.

“Everybody has a plan before they get hit,” the coach began on Instagram. “Acceptance: With zero excuses and pure admiration for Lina Lansberg the obvious conclusion is… Cyborg is just a better fighter, too strong, too heavy, possesses power that can put any woman or man to sleep.

“To accept that as a team is very hard trying to figure out what we could’ve done differently. We turned every stone in this weird and crazy camp doing over 100 interviews, along with one month before the fight traveling to Brazil for a two-day promo shoot. We did what we had to do but we fought the last boss with no “insert coin” option! The home country crowd wanted Lina dead covering Tag team’s song “Whoomp there it is” as she was walking in smiling!

“To make a long story longer… Lina had a chat with Cyborg where she mentioned that she walked into the cage at 170 lbs (77 kg). Now that means TWO weight classes up along with that additional skill level. What can be harder than doing all of this in your UFC debut!? I

“I know she will be back and show what she is about but what she did taking this fight believing in herself is admirable! Fighters should ask themselves if they would do it? Forget about the average joe getting anxiety and jitters from singing at a half-empty karaoke bar! I am Linas biggest fan and I will make sure she bounces back! I wanna thank the REAL fans for their support and all the friends and family supporting her through this. She will be back!”

170 is not one weight division above Lansberg’s bantamweight or even two divisions. It is three divisions up. If true, that is crazy, and something has to be done to refine the rules and process under which it took place so it never happens again.

Emphatically, Cris Cyborg did nothing wrong and everything right. It is an athlete’s responsibility to get every legal advantage. Cyborg suffered hugely to make weight and reaped the benefits.

The problem lies with the UFC asking women bantamweights who are not even in the top 15, to move up half a division to fight the best female fighter in MMA history, who walks around near 170. That isn’t responsible, doesn’t make sense, and has to stop.