KICK-12: Should the Super Heavyweight and Heavyweight weight class be repositioned?

General
1

Background:

In Karate Combat’s rules there has existed a weight class that until recently existed only on paper, the Super Heavyweight weight class (Over 205 lbs/93 kg with no upper weight limit). Until Robelis Despaigne scored the fastest KO in KC history the heaviest active weight class was Heavyweight (205 lbs/93 kg).

This has caused some confusion among those familiar with MMA since the Light Heavyweight weight class is 205 pounds and the Heavyweight weight class is 265 pounds. Now every combat sport has their own weight class categories (Boxing’s Light Heavyweight is 165-178 pound [75-81kg]), but with the current Heavyweight weight class in Karate Combat being the same weight as MMA’s Light Heavyweight division, the question is should Karate Combat adjusts the names of their Heaviest weight classes? Should Karate Combat’s Super Heavyweight weight class be renamed Heavyweight and given a hard limit of 265 lbs and should Karate Combat’s Heavyweight weight class be renamed Light Heavyweight?

Arguments in favor of each:

Keep the current names:

  1. Any confusion will be resolved once Super Heavyweight is established: Newer fans have confusion currently since they see the name heavyweight and currently think 265 lbs. But once Super Heavyweight is established it creates incentive to investigate the difference between the two, since this weight class doesn’t exist in any major MMA promotion.
  2. It keeps to the traditions of Karate: From Knockdown Karate tournaments like found in Kyokushin Karate to the Professional Karate Association the tradition of a Super Heavyweight weight class has existed. Karate Combat should keep to the precedent of its namesake not Mixed Martial Arts.

Change the names:

  1. Less confusing for the MMA Community: Karate Combat’s has crossover with many demographics such as Karate fans and Web 3 enthusiasts. But a large crossover group that has been consistent are MMA Fight Fans. Having the name of the weight classes be familiar with MMA fans and the MMA media networks works to the organizations advantage. .
  2. Less confusing for MMA Fighters: Karate Combat has strikers of all competition backgrounds, but a good portion of Karate Combat’s new era talent has come from Mixed Martial Arts. For Light Heavyweight MMA Fighters it’s an extra step to realize that Karate Combat has their weight class it’s just called Heavyweight.

Vote:

Should Karate Combat change the name of its Heaviest weight classes or should it absorb the names of the weight class used by the major MMA promotions?

  • Keep the current names and weights
  • Change the names and add 265 lb/120 kg as the limit
0 voters
1 Like
2

Although I enjoy announcing the “super heavyweight division”, it should be changed to be inline with the rest of the mma community.

3

Why not change the names and put no hard cap?

4

Or even potentially calling 205 light heavyweight and adding a heavyweight division with a cap and a super heavyweight with no cap, this would then keep the “super heavyweight” division from traditional karate, while also make top level weightclasses more fair by making weight classes closer together

1 Like
5

Here’s a video to help explain what is above :saluting_face:
x.com

6

If you want to attract the cross-over MMA fans to KC, it’s likely better to adopt universal weight classes. There are plenty of differences that make KC unique, but some things are probably better standardized to lessen confusion and make adapting to the new product easier.

Voting to change the names and add the limits.

7

That could also make sense. Put LHW and HW in line with MMA then anything above 265 as SHW with no cap. Best of both worlds!