Last year, the Association of Boxing Commissions approved the addition of four new weight classes to MMA – 165 pounds, 175 pounds, 195 pounds, and 225 pounds. Since then, the idea of adding these weight classes, particularly a 165-pound division, has gathered steam with the fighters who claim that making the cut to 155 pounds is too taxing on their bodies but feel disadvantaged competing at 170 pounds. Now, it looks like two of the UFC’s biggest assets are trying to will that into existence.
On Thursday, in response to rumors that the UFC was searching for a main event to headline their return to Madison Square Garden at UFC 230, and were even considering creating an interim title because no champion could step in, UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier stepped in to offer up this possibility.
Poirier and Diaz are set to face each other in the co-main event of UFC 230 in a bout that may well serve as a number one contender’s bout for the winner of the Khabib Nurmagomedov–Conor McGregor fight that will go down at UFC 229. Diaz seemingly liked Poirier’s idea because he picked up the ball and went ahead and announced that their fight would be for the first 165-pound championship.
Of course, Diaz and Poirier do not need the UFC to create a 165-pound title. As they both are seemingly attempting to force the UFC’s hand in the issue, the two could come to a gentleman’s agreement about their weigh-in and then compete for their own belt. It wouldn’t stand as the official UFC 165-pound title, but since the UFC has no 165 division anyway, there would be no official champion to dispute the belt.
Of course, this all could be totally legit. After all, Dana White has a history of saying things that end up being incorrect.
