The strawweight division in
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
is for competitors weighing between 106 and 115
lb (48 to 52
kg). It sits between the lighter
atomweight Atomweight (also referred to as light minimumweight, junior strawweight, junior mini-flyweight and pinweight) is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
In women's boxing and junior amateur boxing pinweight is, or has been, a Weight class (boxing), ...
division and the heavier
flyweight
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb).
Professional boxing
The flyweight division was the last of bo ...
division.
* The
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
's strawweight division, which groups competitors within 106 to 115 lb (48 to 52 kg)
* The
ONE Championship
ONE Championship (formerly ONE Fighting Championship) is a Singaporean combat sports promotion. Founded on 14 July 2011 by entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong and former ESPN Star Sports senior executive Victor Cui, its events have featured mixed ...
's strawweight division, with upper limit at
* The
Road FC
Road Fighting Championship (Road FC; ) is a South Korean-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion which was officially launched in 2010. Prior to December 2016, Road FC had held 52 events in three countries - South Korea, Japan, and China.
Abou ...
's strawweight division, with upper limit at 115 lb (52 kg)
Ambiguity and clarification
Until recently, the strawweight division in
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
was not defined by the
Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts
Most rule sets for mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions have evolved since the early days of Vale Tudo. As a result of health, legal, and moral concerns, many different rulesets were created, which give different countries and promotions very dif ...
, which since the inception of the Unified Rules had grouped all competitors below 125
lb (57
kg) together as flyweights. Support for the class has grown steadily since about 2013:
*
Invicta Fighting Championships
Invicta Fighting Championships, also known as Invicta FC, is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion dedicated to Women's mixed martial arts that was founded in 2012 by Janet Martin and Shannon Knapp. The promotion is currentl ...
, 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
Super Fight League is a mixed martial arts promotion, based in India. The organisation was formed in 2012 by actor Sanjay Dutt and British-Indian businessman Raj Kundra, and is currently co-owned by British-Indian businessman Bill Dosanjh and ...
, an Indian MMA promotion, have been holding female strawweight fights at 105-115 pounds / 52.2 kilograms since
SFL 17 in May 2013.
* In Japan,
Shooto
Shooto is a combat sport and mixed martial arts organization that is governed by the ''Shooto Association'' and the ''International Shooto Commission''. Shooto was originally formed in 1985, first as a particular fighting system and then in 198 ...
regularly holds contests at that weight class and circulates a championship belt for the division.
*
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
has added a women's strawweight division that is set at 115 lbs.
*
Carla Esparza
Carla Kristen Esparza (born October 10, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in which she is a former two-time UFC Women's Strawweight Champio ...
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.
Professional champions
Current champions
These tables were last updated in May 2022.
Men:
Women:
See also
*
List of current MMA Strawweight Champions
*
List of current MMA Women's Strawweight Champions
*
Mixed martial arts weight classes
Mixed martial arts weight classes are weight classes that pertain to the sport of mixed martial arts.
Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts
Prior to state sanctioning, weight classes were not mandatory since the competitions were held without the a ...
References
{{MMA weight classes
Mixed martial arts weight classes