The atomweight division in mixed martial arts generally refers to competitors weighing less than 48 kg (105.8 lb), depending on the promotion. It sits below the heavier strawweight division and is the lightest weight class widely recognized within MMA. The atomweight division in mixed martial arts is used almost exclusively for Women's MMA.[1]

Ambiguity

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In general, atomweight refers to competitors weighing less than 48 kg (105.8 lb), but the exact weight differs per promotion. Fight Matrix classifies fighters at 110.9 lbs (50.3 kg) and under as atomweight.[2]

History

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Mina Kurobe vs. Seo Hee Ham for the inaugural Road FC Women's Atomweight Championship, 2017

Deep Jewels regularly holds contests at 47.6 kg and circulates a championship title. A tournament took place that culminated on December 17, 2011 at Jewels 17th Ring, where Naho Sugiyama defeated both Kikuyo Ishikawa and Misaki Takimoto on the same night to win the inaugural championship.[8] Although now titled the atomweight class, the division was previously known as the featherweight class until May 2015.[3]

Invicta held their inaugural atomweight title fight on October 6, 2012. The contest saw Jessica Penne defeating Naho Sugiyama by triangle choke in the second round.[9]

ONE Championship held their inaugural atomweight championship title match on May 6, 2016. The fight saw Angela Lee defeat Mei Yamaguchi.[10]

Road FC introduced an atomweight championship title on June 10, 2017. The match saw Seo Hee Ham defeat Mina Kurobe by TKO in the third round.[11]

Shooto introduced an atomweight championship via a tournament that culminated on November 27, 2022, where Chihiro Sawada defeated Yuki Ono.[12]

Pancrase held a tournament to crown their inaugural atomweight champion. It concluded on March 31, 2024, with Sarami stopping Sayako Fujita in the first round.[13]

Professional champions

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Current champions

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Organization Reign began Champion Record Defenses
Deep Jewels June 2, 2021   Saori Oshima 10–3 (1KO 6SUB) 1[14]
Invicta FC September 20, 2024   Elisandra Ferreira 8–2 (1KO) 0
ONE Championship September 30, 2023   Stamp Fairtex 11–2 (5KO 2SUB) 0
Pancrase March 31, 2024   Sarami 19–14 (3KO 6SUB) 0
Road FC September 4, 2021   Yu Ri Shim 6–3 (2KO 1SUB) 0[15]
Shooto November 27, 2022   Chihiro Sawada 3-0–1 (1SUB) 0

See also

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References

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  1. ^ LockerRoom Team. "UFC Weight Classes Explained: Everything You Need to Know about them". lockerroom.in. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Women's Atomweight". Fight Matrix. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  3. ^ a b c "Deep Jewels Adopts Unified Weight Classes, Elbows Now Legal". mmarising.com. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  4. ^ "Athletes". Invicta Fighting Championships. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  5. ^ "パンクラス オフィシャル ルール 〜 2016年改訂版(2016年1月31日より実施) 〜" (PDF). Pancrase (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  6. ^ "Martial Arts". ONE Championship. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  7. ^ "FIGHTERS 選手紹介: アトム級 [ -47.6 Kg ] / 10 選手". Shooto. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  8. ^ "Jewels: "17th Ring" Live Play-By-Play & Results". mmarising.com. 2011-12-17. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  9. ^ "Invicta FC 3 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Penne vs Sugiyama' TONIGHT (Oct. 6)". MMA Mania. 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  10. ^ LockerRoom Team. "ONE Championship Weight Classes: Everything You need to know". lockerroom.in. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  11. ^ "Video: UFC vet Seo Hee Ham drops a weight class, wins Road FC atomweight belt". Bloody Elbow. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  12. ^ "【修斗】清水清隆が引退試合で秒殺TKO負け、藤井伸樹が石井逸人との大激闘を制し新王者に!". eFight. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  13. ^ "Honoka Shigeta, Satomi Takano Win Championships At Pancrase 341". mmarising.com. 2024-03-31. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  14. ^ "Saori Oshima". sherdog.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Yu Ri Shim". sherdog.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.