In short
- The Unified Rules define 14 weight classes, from 115 to 265 pounds and above.
- The UFC uses 11 of them: 8 for men, 3 for women.
- Each limit is a maximum: a lightweight must weigh 155 pounds or less.
- Non-title fights allow a one-pound allowance; title fights allow none.
- Official weigh-ins take place the day before the fight.
Weight class chart
| Division | Limit (lb) | Limit (kg) | In the UFC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | 115 | 52.2 | women |
| Flyweight | 125 | 56.7 | men and women |
| Bantamweight | 135 | 61.2 | men and women |
| Featherweight | 145 | 65.8 | men, women until 2023 |
| Lightweight | 155 | 70.3 | men |
| Super lightweight | 165 | 74.8 | no |
| Welterweight | 170 | 77.1 | men |
| Super welterweight | 175 | 79.4 | no |
| Middleweight | 185 | 83.9 | men |
| Super middleweight | 195 | 88.5 | no |
| Light heavyweight | 205 | 93.0 | men |
| Cruiserweight | 225 | 102.1 | no |
| Heavyweight | 265 | 120.2 | men |
| Super heavyweight | over 265 | over 120.2 | no |
The UFC’s women’s featherweight division went dormant after champion Amanda Nunes retired in 2023, leaving three active women’s divisions: strawweight, flyweight and bantamweight.
The four classes added in 2017
Super lightweight, super welterweight, super middleweight and cruiserweight were added to the Unified Rules in 2017 by the Association of Boxing Commissions. The goal was to close the 10- to 15-pound gaps between divisions, which push fighters into drastic weight cuts or into fights against much bigger opponents. No major promotion has adopted them. The UFC keeps its eight men’s divisions, while the PFL and ONE Championship run their own systems.
How weigh-ins work
Official weigh-ins are usually held the morning before the fight, in front of a representative of the athletic commission. A fighter who comes in heavy is typically given a short window, often an hour or two, to lose the difference and step back on the scale.
In a non-title fight, a one-pound allowance applies, so a lightweight can weigh 156. In a title fight there is no allowance at all. A fighter who misses weight usually forfeits part of the purse to the opponent, often 20 percent or more in the UFC, and the bout goes ahead at a catchweight. In a title fight, the fighter who missed weight cannot win the belt.
The ceremonial weigh-in, the one with the crowd and the face-offs, has no official value.
Weight cutting
Most pro fighters walk around well above their division limit. They cut the difference in the week before the weigh-in, mainly through dehydration, then rehydrate in the 24 to 36 hours before the fight. A lightweight who weighs 155 on Friday can step into the cage at 170 or more on Saturday. Done badly, cutting is dangerous, which is why ONE Championship introduced hydration testing alongside the scale.
Current UFC champions
| Division | Champion |
|---|---|
| Flyweight | Joshua Van |
| Bantamweight | Petr Yan |
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski |
| Lightweight | Justin Gaethje |
| Welterweight | Islam Makhachev |
| Middleweight | Sean Strickland |
| Light heavyweight | Carlos Ulberg |
| Heavyweight | Ciryl Gane |
| Women’s strawweight | Mackenzie Dern |
| Women’s flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko |
| Women’s bantamweight | Kayla Harrison |
Per the official UFC rankings of September 19, 2026. The top 15 of every division is on our UFC rankings page.
Frequently asked questions
How many weight classes are there in the UFC?
Eleven: eight men’s divisions from flyweight to heavyweight, and three women’s divisions at strawweight, flyweight and bantamweight.
What is the heavyweight limit in MMA?
265 pounds, or 120.2 kilos. Anything heavier falls under super heavyweight, which the UFC does not use.
What happens when a fighter misses weight?
The fighter usually gives up part of the purse to the opponent and the bout proceeds at a catchweight. In a title fight, the fighter who missed cannot win the belt.