One major Japanese mixed-martial-arts promotion will follow the lead of its North American counterparts.
World Victory Road officials today announced fighters in their Sengoku event series will now compete in weight classes that adhere to the limits set forth in MMA's "unified rules."
The changes go into effect for its next show, Sengoku Raiden Championships 13, which takes place June 20 in Tokyo, Japan.
WVR, which launched in 2007 following the Ultimate Fighting Championship's purchase (and eventual disbanding of PRIDE Fighting Championships), previously used weight classes that differed slightly from those found in the U.S. and Canada. For example, the organization's featherweight division topped off at 65 kilograms (143 pounds) and middleweight division went up to 83 kilograms (183 pounds).
The promotion will now use the standards of 135 pounds (bantamweight), 145 (featherweight), 155 (lightweight), 170 (welterweight), 185 (middleweight), 205 (light heavyweight), 265 (heavyweight) and 266-plus (super-heavyweight).
The biggest changes come to the bantamweight and welterweight divisions, which have increased by approximately two and three pounds, respectively.
Officials cited Sengoku fighters' need for consistency since so many of them also compete in North America. Additionally, the executives hope the changes encourage more international fighters to compete under the Sengoku banner.
The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board first adopted the "Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts" in 2000, and 43 other U.S. state athletic commissions have since followed suit.
Despite the weight-class changes, WRV still uses a rules set that differs slightly from the one in the unified rules. For example, Sengoku fighters can use knees and stomps to the head of a downed opponent, though elbow strikes to the head are prohibited.
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