Bantamweight (MMA)
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The bantamweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:
- The King of the Cage bantamweight class, which limits competitors to 145 lb (66 kg)[1]
- The World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) bantamweight division of 126–135 lb (57–61 kg)
- The Shooto bantamweight division, which suits competitors below 123 lb (56 kg)
The bantamweight division sits between the lighter flyweight division and the heavier lightweight division. Due to the weight class' relative sparsity, few organizations maintain a bantamweight division.
[edit] 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, which is the limit as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission combat sports doctrine.[2] This encompasses both the Shooto Featherweight division (132 lb / 60 kg) and the King of the Cage Junior Bantamweight division (135 lb / 61 kg). WEC uses the Nevada definition of "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 became reinstated as the lightweight class.
[edit] Notable bantamweights in MMA
Masakatsu Ueda, Shooto 132-pound champion- Koetsu Okazaki, Shooto 132-pound contender
Manny Tapia, King of the Cage 135-pound champion- Chase Beebe, former World Extreme Cagefighting 135-pound champion
- Miguel Torres, World Extreme Cagefighting 135-pound champion
[edit] References
- ^ Fighters: Rankings .... KingoftheCage.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT. http://www.leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
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