Weight Classes in Combat Sports: Why Are They Important?

Weight classes exist in many combat sports, such as BJJ, UFC, MMA, and many others. Every player plays in one of the weight classes, depending on weight. You often have wondered why there are so many weight classes in combat sports. You may even wonder what these weight classes are important for and why they matter. You don't need to be confused any longer. The answers to all of your queries are here discussed in this article. We will explore the weight classes in different combat sports and their importance.

• Weight classes did not always exist. There was a time when there were no weight classes. Anyone can play with other players without the need for matching weight. This simply means that a player with a much larger body size and weight can play with a player with a smaller size and weight. This resulted in many fights in which one player was injured because of their smaller body size and weight.
• However, it is possible to some extent that a player with a smaller weight can fight and take an edge over a player with a larger body weight and size due to skill and technique. But it is still unfair. So, to overcome unfair fights, the need for weight classes was recognized at the end of the 19th century.

• Boxing became the first sport to introduce weight classes in professional matches. The rules that govern the weight classes and divisions at that were called the Queensberry Rules. These rules added eight divisions based on weight in boxing. After that rule change and introduction of weight classes, all players needed to play in only one weight class at a time, depending on their weight. After boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) also added weight classes to their professional play structure.

There are many officially recognized weight divisions in combat sports. The reason that there are so many weight classes is important. The reason is fourfold. It is fairness, safety, geography, and strategy.

• So, for fairness, think of this as an example. You have an undefeated Russian fighter who weighs 250 pounds, and you have an undefeated Filipino fighter who weighs 115 pounds. Now, if they were to fight each other, the Russians would most likely win. 
• The Russians would win because of the massive weight difference. When you have such a large weight difference and have a higher weight but are against the lower weight, the higher weight would have huge advantages, power, and punch resistance. So, to eliminate all these advantages, weight classes are necessary. They will promote fairness by having two fighters playing in the same weight class.

• The opposite would be true for the person at a much lower weight. When you compare the two, that is the reason that there are so many weight divisions. The safety angle comes in. If you have good technique and are a skilled fighter, you should be fighting someone at the same weight as you. 
• Because then you are just going off against skill versus skill. You are not fighting someone a foot taller than you or 50 pounds heavier than you. It is completely fair if you have two people roughly around the same height and, most importantly, the same weight the day before the fight. Whether someone is taller or stronger, they will have that reach advantage or that power and strength advantage over their opponent.

• There is also a sort of generalized geographical reason behind it. You tend to find it in the lowest-weight divisions in boxing. They are populated by fighters from East Asia, east Asia, and Central and South America, for example, Japan, Thailand, and Mexico. Fighters from these nations are very successful in the lowest-weight divisions. Conversely, in the highest weight divisions, like the heavyweight division traditionally, the fighters have had the most success, whether they are from the United States of America or Europe.

• Weight classes in combat sports make fighters strategic. They have to rely on technique and strategy. They cannot win just because they are larger than their opponent. They can only win if they are more skillful. They can win only by making proper strategy. This eliminates bias and unfairness and promotes true professionalism in which players are forced to be strategic to take an edge over their opponent. So, weight classes make strategy the only option for submitting and taking your opponent down.
• So, it is not about marginalizing people. It is about creating a more inclusive environment if you are talented enough. There are many weight categories that you can choose from that best fit your perfect fight condition. Safety also plays a factor here because if you go back to the example earlier with a massive Russian and a small Filipino, the safety angle also comes in. If you are fighting someone much heavier than you, if they hit you clean, it could potentially do some severe damage. So it is much more far from fair and safe.

• Optimal weight as a fighter in combat sports depends on what you try to do. You probably want to add some weight if you go out for street self-defense. You should have that cushion and not have to be all leaned out. You can have a layer of fat over you if your cardio is still good because you will have that mass and power. You will have the cushion. So, all of those things do matter in a fight.
• If you are a boxer or an MMA fighter, nine out of 10 times, you will cut your weight to your lowest weight possible, where you still feel healthy. So suppose you walk around at about 145 to 147, but when you fight, you may cut down to 132, and you fight at 132. So it is about 13 lbs that you cut and still feel comfortable at 132. You will still feel like you have plenty of energy. But there should be no fat on your body. Your cardio is great, but your energy levels are still high.
• You don't want to do that so much for a street fight. You are trying to get down and fight the smallest guys possible for that weight division, but in a street fight, you may be fighting that bigger or stronger guy, so put on that size. But you should not put on too much size to get fat. You should ensure you are still doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT). You are doing cardio, strength training, and training for your fight. So you should try to get big and get strong. You should feel comfortable with where you are at, but you should not try to get fat. You should not try to get too big. Work on your mobility, agility, and flexibility. All of those things are very important as a fighter.

• You often have thought about what weight class is best for you. What weight class should you be in? These are weight-specific combat sports if you start your career in boxing, MMA, or wrestling. You have to be in the right weight class for optimal performance. Being in the wrong weight class will cause you to underperform and possibly even get more severe injuries than you could already get. People often choose weight classes based on their desire to be in some specific weight class.
• Don't choose the weight class. Let the weight class choose you. It means that getting in top physical condition, shape, and height has nothing to do with it. That is not relevant. It is more about what science and your body will produce. You want your game, whatever it is. Height has nothing to do with it because you may have seen fighters in combat sports who are very tall and have low-weight classes and vice versa, and they do well. So don't go by that.
• It is more about where you will be in your health and how it will give you the best energy levels and fortitude. You have to be able to withstand the punishment. That is the most important thing. So, to find that out, you should get a solid program together. See a doctor and a nutritionist. Tell them what your goals are. As far as being involved in sports, you should try to have a low body fat percentage. It does not mean to kill yourself to get to a specific number. But after six months of having a regular work routine, get your money in proper diet tracking your macros.
• Track macros to break down your carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Keep a solid strength training conditioning program like clockwork on the schedule every week. Do this for six months, whatever your weight class is. Go with four rounds of heavy sparring. That is where you want to be at whatever weight you are at. After doing all of these, the weight at that time will be your weight class. Stay there for as long as you can.

• As time goes on, your training and diet should improve. You will start to get familiar with your body. You may change a little bit as time goes on. You may go up a little or down a little bit. But in the beginning stages, get in the top shape. You know your skills are going to be still developing. So, your athletic performance is going to be more prevalent than anything. Because amateur fights are short, they are fast-paced, so you should have the energy reserves to come out the gates with guns blazing and swinging for defenses the whole time from beginning to end. Combat sports is more like a drag race. It is more like a marathon.
• It depends on who the fighter is, but that's the overall structure of the sport. That is how they design. So get as healthy as you can. Get in the best shape as you can. When you can go four rounds of solid sparring, that is the weight class you should be in. Take it from there.

Bruce Lee always said that the stronger one would win if two fighters had equal skills. People often say that size does not matter and skill is everything while playing combat sports. But it is not true. Obviously, skill is the number one thing. But people should realize that size, weight, and height also matter. That is the reason weight classes were introduced in combat sports. If a fighter has more weight and height, they have an advantage over their opponent. They can easily win and submit to their opponent because of their higher weight. They can easily overpower them.

At the End of the 19th century, weight classes were introduced. Boxing became the first sport to introduce weight classes in professional matches. The rules that govern the weight classes and divisions at that were called the Queensberry Rules. These rules added eight divisions based on weight in boxing. 

Weight classes are added in combat sports to maximize fairness, strategic playing, and players' safety and avoid unnecessary advantage to higher-weight players.

Don't choose the weight class. Let the weight class choose you. It means that getting in top physical condition, shape, and height has nothing to do with it. It is more about where you will be in your health and how it will give you the best energy levels and fortitude. See a doctor and a nutritionist. Tell them what your goals are. Track macros to break down your carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Keep a solid strength training conditioning program like clockwork on the schedule every week. Do this for six months. Go with four rounds of heavy sparring. That is where you want to be at whatever weight you are at. After doing all of these, the weight at that time will be your weight class. Stay there for as long as you can.

Optimal weight as a fighter in combat sports depends on what you try to do. You probably want to add some weight if you go out for street self-defense. If you are a boxer or an MMA fighter, nine out of 10 times, you will cut your weight to your lowest weight possible, where you still feel healthy. You don't want to do that so much for a street fight. You are trying to get down and fight the smallest guys possible for that weight division, but in a street fight, you may be fighting that bigger or stronger guy, so put on that size.