The welterweight division in mixed martial arts contains different weight classes:
- The UFC’s welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg)
- The ONE Championship’s welterweight division, with upper limit at 84 kg (185.2 lb)
Ambiguity and clarification
Many other sports that use the welterweight class, such as boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, define it as below about 147 lbs (67 kg). The MMA welterweight class is therefore significantly heavier than the welterweight class of these other sports. For the sake of uniformity, many American mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 156 and 170 lb (71 and 77 kg) as welterweights. This encompasses the Shooto middleweight division (167 lb / 76 kg).
The welterweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions is 170 lb (77 kg).
Professional Champions
Current champions
This table is not always up to date. Last updated August 24, 2020.
Organization | Reign began | Champion | Record | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
UFC | March 3, 2019 | ![]() |
17–1 (6KO 2SUB) | 3 |
Bellator MMA | October 26, 2019 | ![]() |
32–7 (14KO 12SUB) | 0 |
ONE Championship | October 25, 2019 | ![]() |
23–4 (8KO 4SUB) | 1 |
Fight Nights Global | April 6, 2019 | ![]() |
12–3 (8KO 1SUB) | 1 |
KSW | October 6, 2018 | ![]() |
17–3 (14KO 1SUB) | 1 |
Titan FC | March 15, 2019 | ![]() |
9–1 (4KO 2SUB) | 1 |
ACA | September 5, 2020 | ![]() |
19–4 (10KO 1SUB) | 0 |
Legacy Fighting Alliance | August 21, 2020 | ![]() |
13–2 (5KO) | 0 |
Cage Warriors | TBA | vacant | TBA | 0 |
Most wins in Welterweight title bouts
- Note: the list includes wins in bouts for welterweight titles of major promotions (UFC, Strikeforce, WEC, Bellator)
- Note: the list includes both undisputed and interim champions
- Active title reign
Name | Promotion | Title bout wins | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() |
UFC | 12 |
2. | ![]() |
UFC | 9 |
3. | ![]() |
UFC | 5 |
![]() |
Bellator | 5 | |
![]() |
WEC, Strikeforce | 5 (1 WEC, 4 Strikeforce) | |
![]() |
WEC, UFC | 5 (4 WEC, 1 UFC) | |
4. | ![]() |
UFC | 4(+1a) |
5. | ![]() |
Bellator | 3 |
![]() |
UFC | ||
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UFC |