what are the ufc weight classes

February 18, 2026

UFC organizes its fighters into specific weight classes to ensure fair matchmaking based on body size and power. These divisions span from the lightest strawweights up to massive heavyweights, with separate setups for men and women.

Men's Divisions

Men compete across eight primary weight classes, each defined by strict minimum and maximum weights measured at official weigh-ins (typically the day before fights). Here's the full breakdown from heaviest to lightest:

UFC Weight Class| Min Weight| Max Weight| Current Champion (as of early 2026)
---|---|---|---
Heavyweight| 205 lb (93 kg)| 265 lb (120 kg)| Tom Aspinall 1
Light Heavyweight| 185 lb (84 kg)| 205 lb (93 kg)| Alex Pereira 1
Middleweight| 170 lb (77 kg)| 185 lb (84 kg)| Khamzat Chimaev 1
Welterweight| 155 lb (70 kg)| 170 lb (77 kg)| Islam Makhachev 1
Lightweight| 145 lb (66 kg)| 155 lb (70 kg)| Ilia Topuria 1
Featherweight| 135 lb (61 kg)| 145 lb (66 kg)| Alexander Volkanovski 1
Bantamweight| 125 lb (57 kg)| 135 lb (61 kg)| Petr Yan 1
Flyweight| 115 lb (52 kg)| 125 lb (57 kg)| Joshua Van 1

Fighters must hit these limits or face penalties like purse deductions; missing by even a pound can lead to catchweight bouts or cancellations.

Women's Divisions

Women have four divisions, starting lighter without a men's equivalent for strawweight. Key details:

UFC Weight Class| Min Weight| Max Weight| Current Champion (as of early 2026)
---|---|---|---
Featherweight| 135 lb (61 kg)| 145 lb (66 kg)| (Varies; division active) 1
Bantamweight| 125 lb (57 kg)| 135 lb (61 kg)| (Active) 1
Flyweight| 115 lb (52 kg)| 125 lb (57 kg)| Valentina Shevchenko 1
Strawweight| None| 115 lb (52 kg)| Mackenzie Dern 1

These classes promote balanced fights, as smaller frames often mean speed advantages while heavier ones bring raw power.

Weigh-In Rules

Fighters weigh in twice: non-title at 10 AM fight day prior, titles 24 hours earlier. Hydration tests prevent extreme cuts—urine must be clear enough. Recent 2026 talks speculate a new class between 185-205 lbs, but no changes yet.

TL;DR: UFC has 8 men's and 4 women's classes with fixed lb/kg limits; champions shift often amid thrilling rivalries.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.