Bantamweight (MMA)

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 (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 66 kg (145.5 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 that country, 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 April 2022.

Men:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC March 6, 2021 Aljamain Sterling 21–3 (2KO 8SUB) 1
Bellator May 7, 2021 Sergio Pettis 21–5 (3KO 4SUB) 1
Rizin FF December 31, 2020 Kyoji Horiguchi 29–3 (15KO 3SUB) 0
ONE Championship March 11, 2022 John Lineker 35–9 (17KO 4SUB) 0
Fight Nights Global October 10, 2017 Tomáš Deák 20–10–1 (6KO 8SUB) 1
Cage Warriors September 6, 2019 Jack Cartwright 10–0 (3KO 5SUB) 3
ACA March 6, 2020 Daniel Oliveira 27–6 (9KO 11SUB) 0
Brave CF March 11, 2022 Brad Katona 11–2 (1KO 3SUB) 0
Legacy Fighting Alliance N/A Vacant N/A N/A

Women:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC December 11, 2021 Julianna Peña 11–4 (3KO 5SUB) 0
Invicta FC August 27, 2021 Taneisha Tennant 4–1 (1KO 0SUB) 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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