The first part of the work was signing long-term contracts with the main UTMA stars, which will allow the organization to maintain sports stability and ensure constant activity and competitiveness in all weight categories.
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The second, parallel part of the changes was the review of the weight category system.
The organization, taking into account the best international combat sports practices and elements and understanding that a clear sports structure is necessary for stable growth and development of the organization, finalized the principles of weight categories and set precise weight categories.
“For the organization, due to internationalization and the desire to attract more fighters not only from Lithuania, these were very important decisions. Until now, all fights took place in open weight categories, where the appropriate weight was agreed upon with both parties. Now we are moving to the next stage, where we have clear weight categories, clear intermediate weights, and there are ‘catchweight’ rules. There will be clarity not only for the UTMA fighters themselves but also for our fans. At the same time, this will be a big leap for us internationally, helping us attract the best foreign fighters,” said UTMA head Viktoras Gecas.
Weight categories and the “catchweight” system
The UTMA organization chose the following weight categories, which will apply to UTMA kickboxing and muaythai fights: 63.5 kg, 67 kg, 75 kg, 81 kg, 86 kg, 95 kg, and 95+ kg.
These weight categories were chosen by observing the international combat sports situation and also reflecting the organization’s activities – the competitiveness of fighters in each category and the possible selection and activity of fighters.
However, to maintain proper sports principles, limits for the contractual weight (catchweight) of each category were created, which will serve not only when arranging fights between fighters under changing circumstances or help integrate new fighters into the organization’s activities more easily, but most importantly, will be used when creating and calculating the new UTMA organization rankings.
The lower and upper limits of the contractual weight of almost every category coincide – this will help the organization in the future, as needed, to create more interesting and more intriguing fights between the strongest athletes of different weight categories.
Weight categories and their contractual weight limits:
- 63.5 kg: no lower limit, upper contractual weight limit – up to 65.25 kg;
- 67 kg: contractual weight from 65.25 to 71 kg;
- 75 kg: contractual weight from 71 to 78 kg;
- 81 kg: contractual weight from 78 to 83.5 kg;
- 86 kg: contractual weight from 83.5 to 90.5 kg;
- 95 kg: contractual weight from 90.5 to 130 kg;
- 95+ kg: contractual weight from 95 to 130 kg.
It is worth noting that the upper contractual weight limit of the 95 kg weight category coincides with the highest possible fight weight category limit set by the entire organization. Fights in the 95+ kg weight category, according to contractual weight, could take place from 95 to 130 kg.
This overlapping limit of the heaviest weight categories was chosen based on international examples and observing the organization’s history, seeing that fighters in these categories will be able to more confidently and effectively choose different weight categories during their careers and maintain competitiveness, which will allow both spectators and the organization to see the best possible UTMA fights of representatives of the heavier weight categories.
“Most weight categories emerged from the past and from fighters’ decisions – based on where they fought. Fighters could also choose their category, and we somewhat tried to model where a fighter should meet. We already have weight categories, but fighters will be able to appear in ‘catchweight’ fights if it is valuable for them and the organization. Fighters will be able to change weight categories, but these will be exceptional cases, which can finally appear in the UTMA organization, as in all prestigious combat sports organizations worldwide,” said V. Gecas.
Historical ranking and its calculation rules
After clarifying and setting weight categories, their limits, and contractual weight limits, the UTMA organization presents the first-ever organization weight category ranking.
The UTMA ranking will be calculated according to clear mathematical rules – this will ensure objectivity, maintaining a ranking system that accurately ranks the best and most active UTMA fighters in each weight category by discipline.
“Rankings are needed so that once they stabilize, after a few tournaments, we will best see the real situation, and then fights will start to be arranged according to rankings – they will help arrange real fights. We will gain real benefits after a few tournaments when rankings stabilize in weight categories, when after a few fights we see ranking leaders who will be the main contenders for big fights, fights for the championship belt. And finally, we will have champions in all weight categories,” said V. Gecas.
Each fighter can start collecting points in their chosen weight category when they appear in a fight that takes place at the exact base weight of that category.
For example, a fighter in the 75 kg weight category can start collecting points in the ranking of this category when they enter the ring in a fight exactly at the 75 kg weight category.
UTMA rankings operate based on a system of wins, knockouts, title fights, and activity, which allows fighters to collect points.
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As UTMA head V. Gecas mentioned, it is worth understanding that the initial UTMA fighters’ rankings were compiled based on fights when fighters had not yet fought exactly according to the new weight categories, so their positions may be distorted, and the true and clear UTMA picture will become clear after the first few tournaments and fights held in exact weight categories.
Ranking points calculation system
UTMA awards 1 point for a win in their weight category fight and 3 points for a win in a title fight.
An additional 0.5 points are awarded for a win by knockout or technical knockout. An additional 0.5 points are not awarded for a win when the opponent withdraws voluntarily, suffers an injury, or is disqualified.
If a draw is declared in an exact weight category fight – both fighters receive half a point.
The contractual weight system also becomes important in the ranking. A fighter who has appeared at least once exactly at their category’s base weight in a fight starts or collects points for wins within the contractual weight limits of their weight category – 0.5 points are awarded for a win in a contractual weight fight that matches the limits of the fighter’s chosen weight category. Draws in contractual weight category fights do not bring additional points.
The UTMA ranking system is designed not to punish fighters for the courage to accept difficult challenges or risk in higher-level fights.
Losses do not deduct points – a defeat in the ring does not reduce the fighter’s already accumulated ranking points, so athletes are motivated to choose the strongest possible opponents rather than artificially protect their win balance.
Additional points are also not awarded or deducted for fights that did not take place or fights without a decision (no contest).
The ranking system also has additional rules that encourage fighters to remain active.
The system constantly calculates fighters’ activity; however, considering that UTMA tournaments do not take place during the summer, June, July, and August are never included in inactivity calculations.
If a fighter misses 6 months without a fight, the total sum of ranking points collected in a specific category is reduced by 20%. If a fighter does not appear in the ring for 12 months, excluding the summer period, their total points sum is further reduced by 30% – in total, no more than 50% of their initially collected ranking points sum.
The weight category champion automatically occupies the first place in their weight category ranking, regardless of how many ranking points they have collected there.
Each new UTMA organization fighter starts with 0 points and, at the organization’s discretion, may be unranked until their first fight in the UTMA ring. A fighter who changes weight category may remain in the previous weight category ranking, but the inactivity rule will continue to apply to their fights in the previous category.
UTMA rankings will be recalculated and published after each UTMA tournament.
In the kickboxing discipline, UTMA publishes rankings for all weight categories, while in muaythai fights, only the 67 kg weight category ranking is currently published. Additional muaythai fight rankings in the UTMA organization will appear when other weight categories have a sufficient number of fighters to fill the ranking.
All UTMA rankings, weight categories, and other statistics can be found at stats.uniquetma.com.y
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