Last updated: July 9, 2026
Quick Definition
Welterweight is the UFC weight class for male fighters who weigh up to 170 pounds (77.1 kg). It sits between lightweight (155 pounds) and middleweight (185 pounds) and has long been one of the promotion’s deepest and most competitive divisions.
What is welterweight in the UFC?
Welterweight is one of the eight men’s divisions in the UFC, capping fighters at 170 pounds (77.1 kg) on the scale. Anyone above the 155-pound lightweight limit and up to 170 pounds fits here, which makes it the fourth-heaviest of the UFC’s eight men’s classes.
The 170-pound mark is a hard ceiling, not a target weight. Most welterweights walk around heavier and drop down to make the limit, then rehydrate before they fight. That is why a welterweight who weighs in at 170 can step into the Octagon closer to 185 or more.
The division has produced some of the most recognizable names in the sport, and it tends to reward fighters who can do a bit of everything. There is enough size at 170 pounds for real knockout power and heavy top control, but fighters are still light enough to keep a fast pace across three or five rounds. That combination of pace and finishing power, without paying a size penalty, is a big part of why the division stays so stacked.
How the welterweight limit works
Fighters step on the scale the day before the fight, usually at an official weigh-in held between 9 and 11 a.m. local time. For a standard welterweight bout, they get a one-pound allowance and can weigh in at up to 171 pounds. Title fights are stricter: a challenger and champion both have to hit 170 on the nose, with no allowance.
Getting to that number is where weight cutting comes in. In the days before the weigh-in, a fighter gradually sheds weight through diet and training, then cuts water weight in the final 24 to 48 hours to reach the limit. Once the scale reads 170, the fighter starts rehydrating and refueling right away to get strength back for fight night.
Missing weight carries consequences. A fighter who comes in over the limit typically forfeits a percentage of their purse to the opponent, and the bout may be turned into a catchweight fight or, in some cases, scrapped altogether. The UFC uses the weight framework set out in the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which most U.S. athletic commissions follow.
Welterweight vs. other weight classes
Most confusion about welterweight comes from two places: the divisions sitting right next to it in the UFC, and the completely different welterweight limit used in boxing.
Welterweight vs. lightweight and middleweight
Wedged between lightweight and middleweight, welterweight has 15-pound gaps on either side that shape how fights look. Lightweights are quicker and lean on volume and scrambles. Middleweights hit noticeably harder. That middle ground is exactly why fighters moving up from 155 or down from 185 so often land at welterweight.
| Division | Weight limit (title) | Position among men’s classes |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70.3 kg) | 5th heaviest |
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77.1 kg) | 4th heaviest |
| Middleweight | 185 lb (83.9 kg) | 3rd heaviest |
UFC welterweight vs. boxing welterweight
This one trips up a lot of new fans. A boxing welterweight and a UFC welterweight are not the same size. Boxing caps its welterweight division at 147 pounds, while the UFC sets the limit 23 pounds higher at 170. That same 170-pound fighter would land up near boxing’s super middleweight or light heavyweight range, nowhere close to a boxing welterweight.
| Sport | Welterweight limit |
|---|---|
| UFC (MMA) | 170 lb (77.1 kg) |
| Boxing | 147 lb (66.7 kg) |
The mismatch exists because MMA and boxing built their weight ladders separately. Kickboxing and Muay Thai define welterweight closer to the boxing number too, so the UFC’s 170-pound version is heavier than almost every other combat sport that uses the name.
Notable welterweight champions
The lineage started in 1998, when Pat Miletich won the first UFC welterweight title. Matt Hughes made the division his own in the early 2000s with seven title defenses across two reigns, and Georges St-Pierre pushed it further, racking up nine consecutive title defenses in his second reign, still the division record.
More recent history runs through Robbie Lawler, Tyron Woodley, and Kamaru Usman, whose grappling-heavy run stacked up five straight title defenses. Leon Edwards ended Usman’s reign with a fifth-round head kick at UFC 278 in 2022 to become the first British UFC welterweight champion, and Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena later held the belt.
| Champion | Reign began | Title defenses |
|---|---|---|
| Pat Miletich | 1998 | 4 |
| Matt Hughes | 2001 | 7 (two reigns) |
| Georges St-Pierre | 2006 | 9 (second reign) |
| Kamaru Usman | 2019 | 5 |
| Islam Makhachev | 2025 | 0 (current) |
Islam Makhachev is the current UFC welterweight champion. He vacated the lightweight title, moved up 15 pounds, and beat Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, becoming the 11th fighter in UFC history to win belts in two weight classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What weight is welterweight in the UFC?
The welterweight limit is 170 pounds (77.1 kg) for title fights. Non-title welterweight bouts allow a one-pound cushion, so a fighter can weigh in at up to 171 pounds.
Who is the current UFC welterweight champion?
Islam Makhachev. He won the title from Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025 after moving up from lightweight.
Is UFC welterweight the same as boxing welterweight?
No. These are different weight limits entirely. Boxing caps welterweight at 147 pounds, while the UFC’s ceiling sits 23 pounds higher at 170, which puts a UFC welterweight far above boxing’s welterweight, up around boxing’s super middleweight or light heavyweight territory.
What is the difference between welterweight and lightweight?
Lightweight caps at 155 pounds and welterweight at 170. The 15-pound gap generally means welterweights carry more power, while lightweights tend to move faster.
Does the UFC have a super welterweight division?
No. The Unified Rules of MMA recognize a super welterweight class, but the UFC does not currently use it. Its men’s ladder goes straight from welterweight to middleweight.
Sources
- UFC. “Understanding UFC Weight Classes And Weigh-Ins.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.ufc.com/news/understanding-ufc-weight-classes-and-weigh-ins - UFC. “Main Card Results: VeChain UFC 322.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.ufc.com/news/main-card-results-vechain-ufc-322-della-maddalena-vs-makhachev-event-tonight-recaps-highlights-interviews - Wikipedia. “Welterweight (MMA).” Accessed July 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welterweight_(MMA) - Wikipedia. “UFC 322.” Accessed July 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_322 - ESPN. “Makhachev dominates to become 2-weight champion at UFC 322.” Accessed July 2026.
https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/46984120/makhachev-dominates-become-2-weight-champion-ufc-322 - Wikipedia. “Mixed martial arts weight classes” (Unified Rules weight limits). Accessed July 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts_weight_classes
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