Mean Male Weights and Weightclasses

[Haulport]

Just wanted to start up a little discussion about weightclasses and putting them in the perspective of the actual distribution of average human weight. I often see a lot of talk on all the forums about "midgets" and splitting up the LHW and HW classes so here is some research I did way back when I was discussing this with Keith "I Didn't Even Get a Station Casino Job Out of This" Kizer:

I'll start off tonight just using the average weights of "white" males between the ages 20-30 (the most common ages of fighters).

• 75% of “White” males are below ~195lbs.
• 50% of “White” males are below ~175lbs.
• 25% of “White” males are below ~160lbs.
• 5% of “White” males are below ~135lbs.

What do the above stats tell us?

1. 25% of White males weigh between a 15lbs range of 160-175
2. 50% of White males weigh between a 35lbs range of 160-195
3. Considering that the usual walk around weight of a Welterweight (170lbs. max) is approximately 190-195lbs. it is safe to say that 75% of males between the ages of 20-30 are Welterweights or lighter.
   • This leaves a only 25% of white males to fill in 3 weightclasses (MW, LHW and HW) while the other 75% of white males squeeze into 5 weightclasses (FlyW, BW, FW, LW & WW). 50% of the population would actually be squeezed into FW, LW & WW.

This is why I have always championed a new 165lbs. weightclass and pushing the current WW to 175lbs.

 

[Wild]

Fucking good to have you back around @Haulport

 

[Haulport]

: )

I think I'll be visiting here more often. My interest in MMA has waned this year A LOT but this seems like a much calmer and cooler forum to discuss things time to time.

 

[Wild]

5% below 135. And you're trying to find how many great fighters out of that population pool?

 

[SongExotic2]

5% below 135. And you're trying to find how many great fighters out of that population pool?

Does anyone know of any undiscovered talents in this class?

 

[ChaosOverkill]

Does anyone know of any undiscovered talents in this class?

The UFC wanted to populate a 115er class with Filipino fighters, maybe there were some there that could have been in either class but apparently OneFC is already on it and things seem to have changed.

 

[lookoutawhale]

does this information represent Americans males only?

I wonder what the distribution would be for other countries. Mexico/Phillipines/China might bulk up the bottom weights.

 

[Lefty]

Great info Haulport!

 

[FadeToBlack]

Haulport's point is why I feel a lot of people don't give a shit about smaller fighters, because they can't relate to being that small.

While 155 lbs. is still light for an average male aged 20-35 (the prime fighting age), the fact those 155'ers are actually 170'ers or so when they walk around and who simply cut a bunch of weight to get down to 155 would suggest that lightweight is probably the lower limit of "normal" that most male fans can relate to.

Jose Aldo is 5'7" (shorter than the average male). People start to lose that awe factor when they're watching smaller guys than themselves, even if those smaller guys could kick their ass. I think the only way to make the smaller fighters more popular is to have them fight the bigger fighters in an openweight format, because the top small guys would score some big wins over some lesser skilled bigger guys and that would bring that awe factor back to those fighters. Otherwise, it's not very interesting to see munchkins going to war.

 

[La Paix]

Great info Haulport!

Not sure if you know but just a tip....if you put @ in front of a user name it'll give them a notification which will direct them to that post. Just like @Lefty If you already knew then a sincere Canadian apology for questioning your knowledge, sorry aboot that.

 

[Zeph]

5% below 135. And you're trying to find how many great fighters out of that population pool?

I bet few of the competitors at 125 weigh below 135 on fight night.

 

[Zeph]

Haulport's point is why I feel a lot of people don't give a shit about smaller fighters, because they can't relate to being that small.

While 155 lbs. is still light for an average male aged 20-35 (the prime fighting age), the fact those 155'ers are actually 170'ers or so when they walk around and who simply cut a bunch of weight to get down to 155 would suggest that lightweight is probably the lower limit of "normal" that most male fans can relate to.

Jose Aldo is 5'7" (shorter than the average male). People start to lose that awe factor when they're watching smaller guys than themselves, even if those smaller guys could kick their ass. I think the only way to make the smaller fighters more popular is to have them fight the bigger fighters in an openweight format, because the top small guys would score some big wins over some lesser skilled bigger guys and that would bring that awe factor back to those fighters. Otherwise, it's not very interesting to see munchkins going to war.

I think most people are pretty in awe of Pacman and Floyd, who are both smaller than 155. I don't buy this lightweight being the lower limit. If a flyweight can generate interest in the future, then there is no reason to think he won't be a big draw. It might take a true outlier, because I think they will need skills, knockout power, and the gift of the gab, but it is still possible.

 

[FadeToBlack]

I think most people are pretty in awe of Pacman and Floyd, who are both smaller than 155. I don't buy this lightweight being the lower limit. If a flyweight can generate interest in the future, then there is no reason to think he won't be a big draw. It might take a true outlier, because I think they will need skills, knockout power, and the gift of the gab, but it is still possible.

Good point. But would you say Floyd/Pac was bigger among casual sports fans than the next big Tyson fight back when he was in his prime? State-side, I think we relate better to athletes that are a similar size to the pro athletes we watch from football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.

 

[Haulport]

does this information represent Americans males only?

I wonder what the distribution would be for other countries. Mexico/Phillipines/China might bulk up the bottom weights.

Yep. This piece of it is just US "white" males. I have/had data for all the major countries that MMA usually represents (Russia, Brazil, US, Japan, Netherlands). US was the most readily available and tells a good story to start with. It is all mostly the same except US "black", Russian and Dutch are bigger but not enough to change the main point: the majority of males are going to weigh between 160-195lbs. before cutting weight.

 

[Zeph]

Good point. But would you say Floyd/Pac was bigger among casual sports fans than the next big Tyson fight back when he was in his prime? State-side, I think we relate better to athletes that are a similar size to the pro athletes we watch from football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.

Floyd vs Pac was the biggest fight ever. Bigger than any Tyson fight.

 

[Wild]

Yep. This piece of it is just US "white" males. I have/had data for all the major countries that MMA usually represents (Russia, Brazil, US, Japan, Netherlands). US was the most readily available and tells a good story to start with. It is all mostly the same except US "black", Russian and Dutch are bigger but not enough to change the main point: the majority of males are going to weigh between 160-195lbs. before cutting weight.

Would you say this has any bearing on LW and WW being so stacked?

 

[Haulport]

Good point. But would you say Floyd/Pac was bigger among casual sports fans than the next big Tyson fight back when he was in his prime? State-side, I think we relate better to athletes that are a similar size to the pro athletes we watch from football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.

While I think HWs and bigger fighters will always be a bigger draw if there are any real, charismatic ones around it is only in MMA do I hear all this "midget" talk. People are in love with Gotti vs. Ward and yet those guys were only 142lbs. when they fought each other. Boxing has a long tradition of light weight fighters being huge stars and that doesn't translate over to MMA. My theory is that this is because of the PRO WRESTLING tradition of MMA where smaller fighters are mostly not well thought of with a few exceptions. But it is neither here nor there because I have met GSP and the guy is just a regular size dude who is in good shape. He is not scary or big in any regard. As a matter of fact, Chuck Zito was hanging out in the same room and he was much bigger and much more intimidating than GSP.

Bruce Lee was basically 135-140lbs. (without cutting) most of his film career or lower...

 

[Haulport]

Would you say this has any bearing on LW and WW being so stacked?

Most def. 155 and 170 for a long time now have had SO MANY top notch fighters (to the point of guys not getting near the title when they could have) and I don't think it is a coincidence that half the US white male population (literally) falls between 160-195lbs.

 

[Haulport]

ttt for the weekday crowd...

 

[ThatOneDude]

Great thread!

 

[Emmery Myers]

This thread has tested positive for heavy amounts of MURIKA and Bald Eagle droppings.

The majority of all human males weigh well below 160 pounds. The average man in South Korea weighs 124 pounds for instance. In India, it is 145.

Flyweight will have small sized competitors in western countries. But the UFC is expanding internationally rapidly and these small divisions in future years will be populated by those fighters.

 

[Emmery Myers]

While I think HWs and bigger fighters will always be a bigger draw if there are any real, charismatic ones around it is only in MMA do I hear all this "midget" talk. People are in love with Gotti vs. Ward and yet those guys were only 142lbs. when they fought each other. Boxing has a long tradition of light weight fighters being huge stars and that doesn't translate over to MMA. My theory is that this is because of the PRO WRESTLING tradition of MMA where smaller fighters are mostly not well thought of with a few exceptions. But it is neither here nor there because I have met GSP and the guy is just a regular size dude who is in good shape. He is not scary or big in any regard. As a matter of fact, Chuck Zito was hanging out in the same room and he was much bigger and much more intimidating than GSP.

Bruce Lee was basically 135-140lbs. (without cutting) most of his film career or lower...

I can buy this, but also, MMA basically was only HW and LHW for most of its existence. The lighter weight classes are new. McGregor is already signaling the end of this. Eventually there will be a big time star in the Asian or Latino markets at 125 and everything will look dramatically different.

 

[kneeblock]

@Haulport good to see you here old pal. We still need to meet up at either Brazilian BBQ or Sue's up in Money Earnin.

 

[Harold_Howard_The_Duck]

This thread has tested positive for heavy amounts of MURIKA and Bald Eagle droppings.

The majority of all human males weigh well below 160 pounds. The average man in South Korea weighs 124 pounds for instance. In India, it is 145.

Flyweight will have small sized competitors in western countries. But the UFC is expanding internationally rapidly and these small divisions in future years will be populated by those fighters.

Well, to be fair, Zuffa LLC. Is a (90 percent) American company that most likely derives a majority of its revenue from the good ol/ USA, especially in terms of the almighty PPV buy (and even pricing).

 

[Emmery Myers]

Well, to be fair, Zuffa LLC. Is a (90 percent) American company that most likely derives a majority of its revenue from the good ol/ USA, especially in terms of the almighty PPV buy (and even pricing).

This isn't true anymore.

"In an interview with the Review-Journal, Zuffa Chief Executive Lorenzo Fertitta projected UFC’s annual international revenue from sources such as staging fights, media sales, sponsorships and merchandise will outstrip its domestic revenue by 2015."
UFC plots aggressive path to expand global empire | Las Vegas Review-Journal

The UFC has gone international baby