For as long as boxing and MMA have coexisted, fans have argued endlessly over which sport reigns supreme in the combat world. MMA – led primarily by the UFC – has exploded into a global powerhouse, highlighted by its recent $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount. Boxing, however, has struggled to maintain its foothold, with heavy hitters exiting the sport for good.

The sport’s decline became more evident after Showtime and HBO pulled out due to falling viewership, and now even one of its biggest promoters, Top Rank, is left without a broadcast partner following the end of its deal with ESPN. Yet, despite UFC’s rise and boxing’s struggles, UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently acknowledged a painful truth: there’s still one area where boxing does it better than the UFC.

Joe Rogan continues to complain about weight classes in the UFC

Talking to Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey on his podcast a few days ago, the 58-year-old once again criticized the UFC, led by CEO Dana White, for its lack of weight classes. “The gaps are just too big. They’re gigantic. So that’s a major problem with MMA. There are [fewer] weight classes than there should be. And then you have a cap on heavyweight, which is bananas,” Rogan said during his show.

In the UFC, the heavyweight limit is capped at 265 lbs, meaning fighters must cut weight to compete in the division. Boxing, however, has no such restriction at heavyweight. “I mean, what about the mountain? That guy from Game of Thrones. If that guy had a fight in the UFC, he wouldn’t be able to make weight. He’s too big. That guy’s almost 400 pounds,” Rogan added.

When McConaughey said he thought there was no limit in the heavyweight division, Rogan quickly corrected him: “That’s what it should be. But there really should be a weight class around 225. There’s something like that.” Pressed on what that division is called, Rogan admitted he couldn’t recall the exact name but pointed to boxing. 

“Boxing has something like that. What is the boxing weight class that’s like below heavyweight? There’s cruiserweight, but then there’s a new one.” He went on, “There’s a recent one… that they’ve developed.” Rogan emphasized that boxing has done a far better job than the UFC when it comes to structuring weight classes. 

“But that’s one thing that boxing does a much better job with, I think, is providing fighters the correct weight class where they can compete in,” he concluded in his podcast. That begs the question: what is the weight class Rogan was referring to?

Bridgerweight, a weight division that Dana White-led UFC doesn’t have

The new weight class, bridgerweight, is boxing’s newest and most debated weight division. Created by WBC in November 2020, it was introduced to bridge the growing gap between cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions. The division begins at 200 pounds and caps at 224 pounds. The idea came as heavyweights have grown significantly larger in recent decades, leaving smaller fighters at a disadvantage when moving up from cruiserweight. 

By establishing a division in between, the WBC hoped to provide more opportunities and safety for athletes caught in the middle. However, the move has been met with skepticism. While the WBA has followed the WBC in recognizing bridgerweight, the IBF and WBO have rejected it. WBO president Francisco Valcarcel summed up the resistance, stating that “having 17 divisions in professional boxing is more than enough.”

Joe Rogan might be a big fan of bridgerweight, but it’s unlikely the UFC will adopt it anytime soon, as it would thin out the heavyweight division. Still, what do you think—should the UFC introduce a bridgerweight division?