The UFC will be adding a new weight class in 2019, this according to former Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson.
“The Punk” recently took to Twitter where he shared the exciting news.
125 weight class is done after @TJDillashaw VS @HenryCejudo from all the @ufc executives I've talk to. 165lb weight class is replacing it https://t.co/TtloqSgvng
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) December 1, 2018
“125 weight class is done after @TJDillashaw VS @HenryCejudo from all the @ufc executives I’ve talk to. 165lb weight class is replacing it.” – Josh Thomson
If what Josh Thomson is hearing proves to be true, the UFC will ultimately close the doors on its men’s flyweight division following January’s UFC 233 super-fight between current 125-pound champion Henry Cejudo and reigning bantamweight kingpin T.J. Dillashaw.
That move would apparently make room for the UFC to introduce a new weight class in the form of a men’s 165-pound division.
Fight fans have been clamoring for the promotion to introduce a 165-pound weight class for some time now.
That chatter continued yesterday evening, this after former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos was dominated by Kamaru Usman in a welterweight contest in which the Brazilian looked completely undersized.
If the promotion does proceed with the move, a ton of notable fighters could potentially change divisions in order to fight at 165-pounds.
Here are just a few of the names who would likely make a move to 165lbs if the UFC does in fact introduce the division. Nate Diaz, Donald Cerrone, Kevin Lee, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor, Jorge Masvidal, Ben Askren and Michael Chiesa are all fighters who could potentially compete in the hypothetical division.
Dana White has shutdown rumors of the UFC’s intention to create a new 165-pound weight class in the past but it would appear that talks are once again heating up.
Do you think it would be a smart move for the UFC to demolish its men’s flyweight division in order to implement a new 165-pound weight class? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!