Strawweight (MMA)

The strawweight division in mixed martial arts is for competitors weighing between 106 and 115 lb (48 to 52 kg). It sits between the lighter atomweight division and the heavier flyweight division.

  • The UFC's strawweight division, which groups competitors within 106 to 115 lb (48 to 52 kg)
  • The ONE Championship's strawweight division, with upper limit at 56.7 kg (125.0 lb)
  • The Road FC's strawweight division, with upper limit at 115 lb (52 kg)

Ambiguity and clarification

Until recently, the strawweight division in mixed martial arts was not defined by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which since the inception of the Unified Rules had grouped all competitors below 125 lb (57 kg) together as flyweights.[1] Support for the class has grown steadily since about 2013:

  • Invicta Fighting Championships, an all women's MMA organization, held their first strawweight title fight on January 5, 2013, and now regularly holds contests at this weight and circulates a championship title.
  • Super Fight League, an Indian MMA promotion, have been holding female strawweight fights at 105-115 pounds / 52.2 kilograms since SFL 17 in May 2013.[2]
  • In Japan, Shooto regularly holds contests at that weight class and circulates a championship belt for the division.[3]
  • UFC has added a women's strawweight division that is set at 115 lbs.[4]
  • Carla Esparza became the inaugural UFC Women's Strawweight Champion at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014.
  • The Association of Boxing Commissions officially added the 115 lb strawweight division on July 29, 2015.[5][6]

Professional champions

Current champions

These tables were last updated in August 2023.

Men:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
One Championship March 1, 2024 Philippines Joshua Pacio 22-4-0 (8KO 9SUB) 0
Pancrase July 18, 2022 Japan Keito Yamakita 8-1-0 (2) (1KO 2SUB) 1

Women:

Organization Reign Began Champion Record Defenses
UFC May 7, 2022 China Zhang Weili 25-3 (11KO 8SUB) 2
Invicta FC March 15, 2023 Republic of Ireland Danni McCormack 7-2 (4KO 1SUB) 0
ONE Championship January 20, 2018 China Xiong Jingnan 17-2 (1KO 1SUB) 6
Deep Jewels June 19, 2021 Japan Seika Izawa 5-0 (1KO 1SUB) 0

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nevada Revised Statutes: Chapter 467 - Unarmed Combat". leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  2. ^ "SFL Weight Groups". Super Fight League Official Website Weight Groups. June 7, 2013.
  3. ^ "2009年7月度". Archived from the original on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  4. ^ "Dana White Announces Addition of New Women's UFC 115-Pound Division".
  5. ^ Jenness, Kirik. "ABC convention ends with MMA day". Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  6. ^ "Association of Boxing Commissions 2015 Annual Conference Agenda" (PDF). Retrieved December 18, 2015.