EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson doesn’t believe the UFC will implement new divisions

Former two-time UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson thinks it would be “awesome” if the UFC decided to implement some new weight classes.

With that said, “Wonderboy” doesn’t expect the leading mixed martial arts promotion to be adding new divisions anytime soon.

Stephen Thompson recently sat down with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor where he shared his thoughts on why adding new weight classes would be a great thing for the fighters, but also a costly move for the UFC ownership group.

“I don’t think the UFC will implement the new divisions just because then there would be more champions. You know, if there is more champions then that is more money that they have to put out. With that said, if they do implement some new divisions, I think that would be really good. Then people wouldn’t be trying to kill themselves. I think introducing new weight classes would just be awesome man. You would still get the odd fighter trying to kill themselves to make a lower weight class but I think overall it would really help. I think the end result would less missed weight cuts and more exciting fights to be honest.”

Fans, analysts and fighters have long called for the addition of more weight classes in mixed martial arts. Taylor suggested that the UFC should get rid of the current 170-pound welterweight division and replace it with two weight classes, one at 165-pounds and one at 175-pounds. Thompson seemed to like that idea so Taylor asked which weight class he would likely compete at if the hypothetical change took place.

“Well, that’s a really good question because I don’t kill myself to get down to 170, but it is still bad. I’ve seen some people literally almost die trying to make weight. Like they look like they are physically dying. Coaches and trainers have to carry them in and out of the sauna. I don’t need that. I don’t consider myself a very big 170 either, you know for the weight class. You’ve got guys who walk around at 200 or more pounds. I personally walk around at 185 or 190. So it’s not that big of a weight cut but shoot if I only have to make 175lbs that would be amazing. Because those last 4-5 pounds are the absolute worst. They are the most taxing to your body. Sometimes it just feels like a wall you hit and your body just makes you work for every last gram of weight. So I don’t know, I think I would be at 175 for sure.”