The middleweight division in mixed martial arts refers to different weight classes:
The UFC's middleweight division, which groups competitors within 171 to 185 lb (77.5 to 84 kg) The Shooto's middleweight class, which refers to competitors between 155 and 170 lb (70.3 and 77.1 kg) The ONE Championship's middleweight division follows the Pride FC model, with an upper limit of The Road FC's middleweight division, with an upper limit of 185 lb (84 kg)
Ambiguity and clarification For the sake of uniformity, many mixed martial arts websites refer to competitors between 171 and 185 lb (77.5 and 84 kg) as middleweights. This encompasses Shooto's light heavyweight division of the same weight limit.
The middleweight limit, as defined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the Association of Boxing Commissions is 185 lb (84 kg).
Professional champions Current champions This table last updated in August 2025. Active title reign OrganizationReign BeganChampionRecordDefensesUFCMay 9, 2026 Sean Strickland31–7 (12KO 4SUB)0PFLJuly 19, 2025 Costello van Steenis18–3 (6KO 8SUB)1ONE ChampionshipN/A VacantN/AN/AFight Nights GlobalSeptember 9, 2020 Vladimir Mineev16–1–1 (9KO 3SUB)0KSWJune 3, 2023 Paweł Pawlak24–4–1 (11KO 3SUB)2Cage WarriorsApril 2, 2022 Christian Leroy Duncan8–0 (6KO 1SUB)1ACAApril 9, 2021 Magomedrasul Gasanov18–2 (5KO 1SUB)2Road FCJuly 3, 2021 In Su Hwang6–1 (6KO 0SUB)0Ice Cage May 16, 2026 André Fialho17-9-0 (13KO 1SUB)0Legacy Fighting Alliance Lucas Fernando9–1 (5KO 2SUB)0URCCJanuary 7, 2017 Chris Hofmann8–1 (7KO)1
See also List of current MMA Middleweight champions List of UFC Middleweight Champions List of Strikeforce Middleweight Champions List of Pancrase Middleweight Champions List of Road FC Middleweight Champions
Footnotes and references