{{Short description|Divisions to match sizes of opponents}} {{Human body weight}} '''Weight classes''' are divisions of competition used to match competitors against others of their own size. Weight classes are used in a variety of sports including rowing, weight lifting, and especially combat sports<ref>{{cite book|first1=Debasis|last1=Bagchi|first2=Nair|last2=Sreejayan|first3=Chandan K.|last3=Sen|title=Nutrition and Enhanced Sports Performance: Muscle Building, Endurance, and Strength|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6gzrRZ_U7dQC&dq=Weight%2520class%2520sport%2520are%2520divisions%2520of%2520competition&pg=PA115|publisher=Academic Press|date=26 July 2013|isbn=978-0-12-396477-9|via=Google Books}}</ref> such as boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Alternatives to formal weight classes include catch weight and openweight.
The existence of weight divisions gives rise to the practice of weight cutting. To be the largest individual in a weight division is perceived as advantageous; therefore many athletes lose weight through dieting and dehydration prior to weigh-ins to qualify for a lower weight class.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Will|last1=Peveler|title=Strength and Conditioning for Mixed Martial Arts: A Practical Guide for the Busy Athlete|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lkMjEAAAQBAJ&dq=Weight%2520class%2520cut&pg=PA155|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|date=14 July 2021|isbn=978-1-5381-3955-4|via=Google Books}}</ref>
==Comparison== Below are selected maximum weight limits for the major classes in different sports.
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Divisions !! Boxing !! MMA !! Kickboxing (ONE) !! BJJ !Judo |- | Heavyweight | ''None'' | {{cvt|120.0|kg|lb|1}} | {{cvt|120.2|kg|lb|1}} | {{convert|94.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} | +{{convert|100|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} |- | Light heavyweight||{{convert|79.4|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|93.0|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|102.1|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|88.5|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} | |- | Middleweight||{{convert|72.6|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|83.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|93.0|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|82.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} |{{convert|90|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} |- | Welterweight||{{convert|66.7|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|77.1|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|83.9|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}|| | |- | Lightweight||{{convert|61.2|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|70.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|77.1|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|76|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} |{{convert|73|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} |- | Featherweight||{{convert|57.2|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|65.8|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|70.3|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|70|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} | |- | Bantamweight||{{convert|53.5|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|61.2|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|65.8|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|57.5|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} | |- | Flyweight ||{{convert|50.8|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|56.7|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}||{{convert|61.2|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}|| | |}
==See also== *Brazilian jiu-jitsu weight classes *Boxing weight classes *Judo weight classes *Kickboxing weight classes *Mixed martial arts weight classes *Professional wrestling weight classes *Taekwondo weight classes *Wrestling weight classes
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Commonscatinline|Weight classes}}
{{Boxing weight classes}} {{MMA weight classes}}
Category:Weight classes