In mixed martial arts, choosing the correct weight class to compete in can often be an important factor in a fighter’s overall success. The UFC currently makes eight weight divisions available to competitors, unlike professional boxing which has double that amount, so mixed martial arts fighters have less leeway when determining their proper placement. Some individuals go through extensive weight cutting methods to get down as far as possible, while others compete closer to their “natural” weights, rather than dealing with the stress on their bodies that losing the weight causes. In light of former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar’s announcement that he will move to featherweight, here are three other fighters who would benefit from moving to a different weight class.
Rashad Evans
With a record of 17-2-1, it’s hard to think that Evans should move down to middleweight, but now may be the best time for him to make that jump. He was recently defeated by Jon Jones, and that loss places him well outside the title picture, as Jones has expressed an reluctance to defend his title against fighters he has already beaten. This puts Evans in a difficult position in the light heavyweight division. Worse still is that many of the top names in the weight class are locked into fights, so not many viable opponents are left for him to face between now and the end of the year. Evans has made mention of a possible move to middleweight if he is given the opportunity to fight for the title. While an immediate title shot is far-fetched, moving to 185 pounds would still be a good option for “Suga.”
For most of his college career, Evans completed at 174 pounds. He has changed weight classes before during his MMA career, as he hit the UFC Octagon as a competitor in the heavyweight division during the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. With few options awaiting him at 205, moving to middleweight would be a good start to the second phase of his career.
Bader is another former college wrestling standout that has completed under 200 pounds in the past. While wrestling for Arizona State University, he spent his time in the 197-pound weight class, where he was a two time All-American. His move from the 205 pound weight class would be due to his inability to win the big fights that his career has required.
At 14-3, Bader has not been able to get over the “hump” of title contention on multiple occasions. In addition to the upset loss to Tito Ortiz, Bader has lost twice in dramatic fashion when matched up against the upper echelon of the division in Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida. If he moved to 185, which has a dearth of high-level wrestlers, Bader’s size and strength would give him the advantage that he has not been able to capitalize on to any great extent while at light heavyweight.
At one point in time, Jim Miller was the lightweight division’s version of Jon Fitch. He has been a part of the UFC’s roster since 2008, and during that time he’s been defeated only three times: Gray Maynard, Benson Henderson, and Nate Diaz. His only other career defeat came to Frankie Edgar years before that. From July 2009 through August 2011, Miller won seven straight fights, but was never considered the number one contender for the title.
After going 1-2 in his last three fights, now may be the time for Miller to think about a stint at featherweight. Miller was once the featherweight champion of Reality Fighting, a regional promotion based in New Jersey. At 28 years of age, he is still in a position to reach the “prime” of his fighting career, and a potential move down in weight class could be the change of scenery it takes to make Miller a viable name once again.
Miller, Bader and Evans are just three examples of fighters who may be able to change around the direction of their careers by changing the opponents they are facing. Dropping down a weight class will not only potentially boost each fighter’s career; it will also bring some excitement to the division each fighter drops into.
