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UFC Weight Classes: Full List in Pounds, Kilos and Stones

UFC Weight Classes

The UFC weight classes number 12 in total, with eight for men and four for women. They run from Strawweight at 115 pounds (8.2 stone) up to Heavyweight at 265 pounds (18.9 stone). Title fights allow no extra weight, and non title fights allow one pound over. Here’s the full list, with the weigh in rules.

UFC Weight Classes at a Glance

Let's start with the numbers. This table lists the men's UFC weight classes in pounds, kilograms and stones. We added stones because many UK readers still think in them.

DivisionPoundsKilogramsStones
Flyweight12556.78.9
Bantamweight13561.29.6
Featherweight14565.810.4
Lightweight15570.311.1
Welterweight17077.112.1
Middleweight18583.913.2
Light Heavyweight20593.014.6
Heavyweight265120.218.9

Each limit is the most a fighter can weigh in that division. One stone is 14 pounds, so Heavyweight at 265 pounds is a little under 19 stone. The stone figures come from LockerRoom.

How Many UFC Weight Classes Are There?

There are 12 UFC weight classes in total. Eight are for men, and four are for women. LowKickMMA and MyFightPrep both give the same count, so the number is easy to trust.

Some classes are shared. Flyweight, Bantamweight and Featherweight have the same pound limits for men and women. Strawweight is a women’s-only division, and Lightweight and above are men’s-only. Knowing this makes the list much simpler to remember.

Women's UFC Weight Classes

The UFC has run a women's division since 2013. Ronda Rousey beat Liz Carmouche at UFC 157 that year, according to Martial Nerd. Today, the women's side covers four divisions.

DivisionPoundsKilogramsStones
Strawweight11552.28.2
Flyweight12556.78.9
Bantamweight13561.29.6
Featherweight14565.810.4

Strawweight is the lightest division in the UFC, and men don't compete there. WSN notes that men don't compete at Strawweight, and BoxingWeightClasses.com says the UFC doesn't roster women below Strawweight or above Featherweight. That keeps the women's list short and easy to follow.

Why Does the UFC Say 12 Classes but Rank Only 11?

The women’s Featherweight title has been vacant since 2023, says MyFightPrep. Amanda Nunes retired that year. So the division exists on paper, but it has no champion and no rankings.

That’s why you’ll see both 12 and 11 online. Both numbers are right. One counts every division, and the other counts only the divisions that are active. If you’re writing about the UFC weight classes, say which count you mean.

How UFC Weigh-Ins Work

Weigh ins are a big part of fight week, so it helps to know the basics. Here are the rules in plain words.

Official weigh ins take place the day before the fight. Fighters must step on the scale between 9 am and 11 am local time. If someone misses on the first try, a commission may allow up to one more hour, according to the UFC.The rules differ by fight type. In a title fight, a fighter must weigh in at or under the exact limit. In a non title fight, a fighter may weigh up to one pound over. So a Lightweight can step on at 156 pounds in a non title bout, but not in a title fight.

These rules apply to every division. They’re also why you’ll hear about fighters cutting weight before the scales.Fighters often cut water to make the scale, then rehydrate afterwards. MyFightPrep cites sports nutrition guidance that puts acute water loss at 2 to 4 percent of body weight in the last 24 hours before weigh in. That describes what professionals do under medical care. It isn’t a tip for anyone to copy.

What Happens When a Fighter Misses Weight?

Missing weight has real costs. The UFC says a fighter may forfeit part of the purse to the opponent. The fight may become a catchweight bout, which means both fighters agree on a new limit between the two divisions. In some cases, the fight is cancelled.

There are two famous examples. At UFC 274, Charles Oliveira lost the Lightweight title after weighing 155.5 pounds, half a pound over. In 2020, Deiveson Figueiredo weighed 127.5 pounds for a Flyweight title fight, 2.5 pounds over. Only his opponent could win the title that night. Figueiredo won, and the belt was left vacant.

A Quick Way to Remember the Limits

The limits follow a pattern that’s easy to learn. From Strawweight up to Lightweight, each step is 10 pounds: 115, 125, 135, 145 and 155. After that, the gaps widen. Welterweight is 170, which is 15 more, and Middleweight is 185, another 15.

Light Heavyweight is 205, a jump of 20. Then Heavyweight tops out at 265, a gap of 60 pounds. That big last step is why the heaviest division holds such a wide range of body types.

Do Other Promotions Use the Same Limits?

Not every promotion uses the same list. MyFightPrep says the Unified Rules of MMA list 15 classes, including Atomweight at 105 pounds and Super Lightweight at 165. Some of those are not used by the UFC, so the UFC keeps its own shorter list.

ONE Championship uses 10 classes with different limits, and it adds a hydration test at weigh in. So when you read a fight result, always check which promotion ran it. A 145 pound limit means Featherweight in the UFC, but not everywhere.

UFC Weight Classes vs Boxing

The UFC has fewer weight classes than boxing, says BoxingWeightClasses.com. Boxing uses more divisions in smaller steps. The UFC groups fighters into wider bands, and its lightest limit is 115 pounds and its heaviest is 265 pounds.

For a closer look at the other sport, read our guide to boxing weight classes. It shows how the two systems differ. One difference is that the UFC runs one champion per division, and a fighter who holds titles in two divisions is called a champ champ.

How the UFC Weight Classes Began

The first UFC events in 1993 had no weight classes at all. Big and small fighters could meet in the same bracket. As mixed martial arts grew, the UFC weight classes were added to make fights fairer.

Sources differ on dates. Martial Nerd says Lightweight first appeared at UFC 12 and Light Heavyweight arrived in 1997, but its own FAQ gives a slightly different account. Treat early dates with care. For the story of the belts, see our post on the history of UFC championship belts.

UFC Weight Classes and Replica Belts

Weight classes matter to belt fans too. GroundedMMA says a Legacy belt shows the champion’s name, weight class and nationality on its left plate. So the division is part of the belt’s story.If you collect, you can pick a belt by division or by fighter. Browse our UFC world championship belt, the UFC championship belt replica and the white UFC title belt replica.

Buying as a gift? Ask which division the fan follows, or which fighter they love. That one question makes the choice much easier, and you can read each product page for size and design details.

You might also like the Conor McGregor signature replica belt. For a wider look at the sport’s titles, see the MMA championship belt page and the history of MMA championship belts. Every belt we sell is a replica, and none is an official UFC belt.

FAQs

How many UFC weight classes are there?

There are 12 UFC weight classes: eight for men and four for women.

What is the lightest UFC weight class?

Women’s Strawweight, at 115 pounds, or 52.2 kg.

What is the heaviest of the UFC weight classes?

Heavyweight, at 265 pounds, or 120.2 kg.

Can UFC fighters weigh over the limit?

In non title fights, they may weigh one pound over. In title fights, they can’t.

What is a catchweight in the UFC?

A bout at an agreed weight between two divisions, often after someone misses weight.

Conclusion

The UFC weight classes are simple once you see them in order. There are 12, from Strawweight at 115 pounds to Heavyweight at 265 pounds. Title fights have no tolerance, non title fights allow one pound, and missing weight can cost a fighter dearly. Check the UFC’s site for any change before you quote a limit.

If you’d like a belt that celebrates your favourite division, browse the UFC replica range at Championship Belt UK. We’d be happy to help you choose one.

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