Dos Anjos (photo) already passed out during weight cutting Photo: Reproduction/Twitter/UFC
The UFC announced, this Wednesday (2), its support for the addition of new categories to MMA. The plan was proposed by the California Athletic Commission (CSAC) and adopted by ABC (Association of Boxing Commissions), an organization that encompasses all North American Athletic Commissions. The idea of the plan is to add four new weight divisions to the sport with the aim of preventing athletes from maintaining extreme weight-cutting practices.
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The new categories proposed by ABC are: super light (165 pounds or 74,8 kg.), super welterweight (175 pounds/79,3 kg.), super middleweight (195 pounds/88,4 kg.) and cruiser (225 pounds or 102 kg.). The idea is that fighters have more category options and can have weight cuts compatible with their body structures.
“The UFC supports the offering of new weight categories in MMA as initially proposed by CSAC and now adopted by ABC. The UFC recently announced the opening of two new women's categories, flyweight and featherweight, and now the global organization offers divisions with a difference of 10 pounds (4,5 kg.) between them. By adding these new classes, the UFC believes it is providing more options for its athletes to promote healthier weight cuts. The UFC also believes that the regional talent, constantly evaluated by company scouts, and incorporated into the organization, will soon be robust enough to justify the addition of these new categories within the UFC itself,” commented Jeff Novitzky, vice president of performance and health of the Ultimate athlete, in a statement sent to the North American website MMA Junkie.
Athletes like Rafael Dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Drew dober, Kelvin Gastelum, John hendricks, among others, could benefit from the addition of new categories, as the aforementioned fighters had problems with their weight in the past. The former Brazilian champion was the only one on that list to never miss weight, but in his fight with Eddie Alvarez, in July last year, RDA passed out during the weight cut.
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