It’s not a rumor, says UFC lightweight Rafael Fiziev when asked if we could see a new weight class in the UFC. For a long time, fans and fighters alike have debated the idea of a 165 lbs division in the UFC. However, UFC CEO Dana White has never said anything positive about the possibility of the 165 lbs division.
But it looks like all of that could change in the near future as Rafael Fiziev has revealed that the UFC has “already” gone ahead with their plans to introduce the new weight class. Speaking to the local media, Ushatayka, here’s what Fiziev had to say about the new weight class.
“It’s not a rumor, I’m hearing that it’s already for sure, as far as I know. I’ve heard that they’ve already identified something there”. Fizev said while expressing his interest in fighting in the new weight class.
Over the past few weeks, there have been murmurs that UFC could introduce the 165 lbs division for a super-fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
Best fights to make if UFC announces the 165 lbs division
There are a lot of exciting match-ups that can line up if UFC decides to give the green signal to the 165-pound division. McGregor vs. Chandler remains the top choice, but fights like Dustin Poirier vs. Colby Covington, Justin Gaethje vs. Leon Edwards, and Charles Oliveira vs. Nate Diaz can see the light of the day.
A 165 lbs division also opens the door for fighters like Islam Makhachev and Leon Edwards, who can look to become two-division champions or even three.
There’s a 10 lb difference between flyweight (125 lbs), bantamweight (135 lbs), featherweight (145 lbs), and lightweight division (155 lbs), but a 15 lb difference in the lightweight, welterweight, and the middleweight division.
If the UFC introduces the new weight class, it will be interesting to see if they will look to maintain the 10 lb difference by pushing the welterweight limit to 175 lbs or keep the difference as 5lb between the new weight class and the 170-pound division. What are your thoughts?
