Conor McGregor, despite starting his MMA career in the featherweight division (145lbs), has fought five out of his last seven fights in the welterweight division (170lbs). Given his history at welterweight, where he has faced some of the biggest names in MMA, a 165lb division would be ideal for McGregor, who might struggle to maintain his current weight.
Colby Covington, another fighter who has had a successful run in the welterweight division, might also benefit from a move to 165lbs. Covington has fought for the undisputed title on three separate occasions, but like McGregor, might be undersized against some of the larger fighters in the welterweight division.
Charles Oliveira, who has struggled to make the lightweight limit in the past, could find his perfect weight class at 165lbs. Oliveira has a rich history of missing weight in the UFC, most notably in his fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274, where he was stripped of his lightweight title. A move to 165lbs could give Oliveira a chance to show his true potential fighting at a more natural weight.
Dustin Poirier, who will once again challenge for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 302, might also be motivated to continue fighting if a 165lb division were created. Poirier has admitted that he has limited time left in MMA, but a new weight class could give him the motivation to extend his career.
Jalin Turner, a unique fighter in the lightweight division, stands 6’3 and has a significant size, reach, and height advantage over most of his opponents at 155lbs. Turner has struggled to find consistency in his UFC career, but a move to 165lbs could allow him to fully utilize his physical attributes and take his career to the next level.
Benoit Saint-Denis, another powerhouse in the lightweight division, is another fighter who is hindered by his weight cut to 155lbs. Saint-Denis, who recently lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299, is almost 6’0 tall and has a similar build to Poirier. Like Turner, Saint-Denis is likely sacrificing a significant portion of his game to make the lightweight limit, and a move to 165lbs could allow him to showcase his full potential.
