Fighters cut weight to make a division limit, then rehydrate and fight well above it on fight night. That gap between weigh-in weight and walk-around weight is one of the most controversial features of modern MMA. This page covers UFC weights by class, the heaviest and lightest fighters on record, and what the typical fighter weighs in each division.
The data comes from our fighter database, which holds over 2,700 fighters across UFC history. Where weights are missing or estimated, the figures below use tier-A (active top-15 plus champions) and tier-B (notable historical) fighters with recorded weigh-in figures.
The heaviest UFC fighters in history
The heaviest fighters on record come almost exclusively from the pre-weight-class era (1993–1997), when there were no upper limits.
| Rank | Fighter | Weight | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teila Tuli | 415 lb | Super Heavyweight (UFC 1, 1993) |
| 2 | Scott Ferrozzo | 323 lb | Super Heavyweight |
| 3 | Paul Varelans | 300 lb | Super Heavyweight |
| 4 | Jon Hess | 295 lb | Super Heavyweight |
| 5 | David Levicki | 290 lb | Super Heavyweight |
| 6 | Derrick Lewis | 266 lb | Heavyweight (modern era) |
| 7 | Greg Hardy | 266 lb | Heavyweight |
| 8 | Tim Sylvia | 265 lb | Heavyweight |
| 9 | Stefan Struve | 265 lb | Heavyweight |
| 10 | Mark Hunt | 265 lb | Heavyweight |
Since UFC 12 (1997), the 265-pound heavyweight ceiling has meant no fighter has competed in the UFC above that limit. Several heavyweights, Derrick Lewis chief among them, sit at the top of the division.
The lightest UFC fighters
The lightest UFC fighters compete in women's strawweight (115 lb upper limit). The lightest men compete at flyweight (125 lb).
| Rank | Fighter | Weight | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kailin Curran | 113 lb | Strawweight |
| 2 | Karolina Kowalkiewicz | 114 lb | Strawweight |
| 3 | Mackenzie Dern | 115 lb | Strawweight |
| 4 | Zhang Weili | 115 lb | Strawweight |
| 5 | Joanna Jedrzejczyk | 115 lb | Strawweight |
| 6 | Jessica Penne | 115 lb | Strawweight |
Average weight by UFC division
The table shows the average weigh-in weight of notable fighters (tier-A and tier-B in our database) per division. Most fighters cut to the limit, so they cluster tightly near the upper bound.
| Division | Upper limit | Average weigh-in | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | 115 lb | 115.0 lb | 23 |
| Flyweight | 125 lb | 124.9 lb | 30 |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb | 135.0 lb | 59 |
| Featherweight | 145 lb | 144.8 lb | 55 |
| Lightweight | 155 lb | 156.0 lb | 97 |
| Welterweight | 170 lb | 169.9 lb | 108 |
| Middleweight | 185 lb | 184.1 lb | 84 |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 lb | 204.1 lb | 73 |
| Heavyweight | 265 lb | 242.8 lb | 84 |
| Super Heavyweight (defunct) | , | 324.6 lb | 5 |
In the lighter divisions, fighters come in within 0.5 pounds of the upper limit on average. Heavyweight is the exception. An average of about 243 lb means most heavyweights don't cut to the ceiling and fight at their natural weight in the 240–250 range.
Walk-around weight vs. weigh-in weight
The number on the scale at weigh-ins isn't the fighter's fighting weight. Fighters cut weight in the days before weigh-ins, mostly through dehydration, then rehydrate in the hours before the bell.
So two "155-pound fighters" facing each other at lightweight are often fighting well above 155 on fight night. That gap drives the long-running debate over weight cutting in MMA, which we cover in our guide to weight cutting practices.
Notable weight class moves
Changing weight classes is a common career move in the UFC. Recent examples:
- Islam Makhachev: Vacated the lightweight title and moved up to welterweight, winning that belt at UFC 322 in November 2025.
- Ilia Topuria: Vacated the featherweight title and moved up to lightweight, winning that belt at UFC 317 in June 2025.
- Conor McGregor: featherweight to lightweight (winning belts in both), then to welterweight for super-fights.
- Daniel Cormier: Held both light heavyweight and heavyweight titles simultaneously, the rare upward-direction double champ.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the heaviest UFC fighter ever?
Teila Tuli at 415 pounds, who competed at UFC 1 in 1993. Tuli was a sumo wrestler entered as the "super heavyweight" in the open-weight tournament. Gerard Gordeau knocked him out in 26 seconds. No fighter in the modern era (post-UFC 12, 1997) has been allowed to compete above the 265-pound Heavyweight ceiling.
Who is the lightest UFC fighter?
Women's strawweight has the lowest limit, at 115 pounds. Multiple champions including Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk have weighed in at the 115-pound class limit.
What is the average UFC fighter weight?
It depends on the division. In the lighter ones, the average is within 0.5 lb of the upper limit because fighters cut to make weight. In heavyweight it's closer to 243 pounds, well below the 265-pound ceiling.
Why don't heavyweights cut to the 265 limit?
Most heavyweights fight at their natural walk-around weight rather than cutting to the ceiling. The 265-pound limit is there to prevent extreme size mismatches, not as a target.
How much weight does a UFC fighter cut?
Lightweights (the 155 lb division) cut weight in the days before weigh-ins, then rehydrate most or all of it before the fight. The practice is controversial because the real weight gap between weigh-in and fight night far exceeds the named division limit.
Do women's weight classes work the same way?
Yes. Women cut to their division limits under the same weigh-in protocols. The women's divisions are strawweight (115), flyweight (125), bantamweight (135) and featherweight (145).