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

  • The UFC's bantamweight division, which groups competitors within 126–135 lb (57.2-61.3 kg)
  • The King of the Cage bantamweight class, with upper limit at 145 lb (65.8 kg)[1]
  • The Shooto bantamweight division, which suits competitors below 125 lb (56.7 kg)
  • The ONE Championship's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 65.8 kg (145.1 lb)
  • The Road FC's bantamweight division, with upper limit at 135.6 lb (61.5 kg)

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:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC August 20, 2023 United States Sean O'Malley 17–1–1 (12KO 1SUB) 0
Bellator November 17, 2023 United States Patchy Mix 19–1 (2KO 13SUB) 0
ONE Championship February 25, 2023 Brazil Fabrício Andrade 9–2 (5KO 2SUB) 0
Rizin FF December 31, 2023 Japan Kai Asakura 21–4 (13KO 3SUB) 0
Fight Nights Global October 14, 2022 Kazakhstan Sabit Zhusupov 15–3 (6KO 3SUB) 0
KSW December 17, 2022 Poland Jakub Wikłacz 14-3-1 (0KO 9SUB) 0
Cage Warriors N/A Vacant N/A N/A
ACA March 26, 2022 Russia Oleg Borisov 26–6–1 (12KO 1SUB) 1
Brave CF N/A Vacant N/A N/A
Legacy Fighting Alliance June 16, 2023 United States John Sweeney 13–3 (4KO 3SUB) 0

Women:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC N/A Vacant N/A N/A
Invicta FC January 18, 2023 Brazil Talita Bernardo 10–4 (0KO 6SUB) 0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fighters: Rankings ..." KingoftheCage.com. Archived from the original on 2007-02-16. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  2. ↑ "Nevada Revised Statutes: `er 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  3. ↑ "Unified Rules of MMA". ABCBoxing.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-05. Retrieved 2012-07-15.


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