Featherweight (MMA)
The featherweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:
- WEC's & Pancrase's featherweight division, which groups competitors within 136 to 145 lb (62 to 66 kg)
- SRC's featherweight division, which formerly limited competitors to 143 lb (65 kg) now revised to 145 lb (66 kg)
- DREAM's featherweight division, which limits competitors to 139 lb (63 kg)
- Shooto's featherweight division, which limits competitors to 132 lb (60 kg)
Ambiguity and clarification
For the sake of uniformity, most American mixed martial arts media outlets consider Featherweight competitors to be between 136 to 145 lb (61 and 66 kg). This encompasses the Pancrase Featherweight division (141 lb / 64 kg) now revised to 145 lb (66 kg); U.S.-based King of the Cage (KOTC), where it is known as the bantamweight division 145 lb (66 kg); Shooto, where it is known as the lightweight division 143 lb (65 kg); the Strikeforce women's "middleweight" division; the Sengoku Featherweight division, the DREAM Featherweight division, and World Extreme Cagefighting's (WEC) Featherweight division.
The featherweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, is 145 lb (66 kg).[1]
Professional Champions
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated on September 2, 2010.
| Organization | Reign Began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFC | — | — | — | — |
| WEC | November 18, 2009 |  José Aldo
|
17-1 (11KO 2SUB) | 1 |
| Strikeforce | — | — | — | — |
| Bellator FC | September 2, 2010 |  Joe Warren
|
6-1 (2KO) | 0 |
| Dream | October 6, 2009 | Bibiano Fernandes
|
8-2 (3SUB) | 1 |
| Sengoku | June 20, 2010 | Marlon Sandro
|
17-1 (7KO 3SUB) | 0 |
| Shooto | May 30, 2010 |  Hatsu Hioki
|
22-4-2 (4KO 11SUB) | 0 |
Notable featherweights in MMA
Jose Aldo, WEC featherweight champion
Mike Thomas Brown, former WEC featherweight champion- Urijah Faber, former WEC featherweight champion, former KOTC bantamweight champion, former Gladiator Challenge lightweight & bantamweight champion
- Marlon Sandro, SRC featherweight champion, Pancrase featherweight champion
- Bibiano Fernandes, DREAM featherweight champion (139 lb)
Hatsu Hioki, Shooto lightweight (143 lb) champion, last TKO featherweight champion- Jens Pulver, former UFC lightweight champion, WEC veteran
- Wagnney Fabiano, last IFL featherweight champion, WEC veteran
- Joe Soto, former Bellator featherweight champion
Mark Hominick, former TKO featherweight champion, WEC veteran- Takeshi Inoue, former Shooto lightweight champion (143 lb)
- Masanori Kanehara, former SRC featherweight champion
- Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, K-1 HERO'S 2005 middleweight Grand Prix champion, DREAM contender
- Alexandre Franca Nogueira, former Shooto lightweight (143 lb) champion
- Hiroyuki Takaya, DREAM contender and the featherweight Grand Prix finalist
Manvel Gamburyan, WEC contender, finalist of The Ultimate Fighter 5 tounament
References
- ^
"Nevada Revised Statutes: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT". http://www.leg.state.nv.us. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
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