This is a move to lift the ante of the MMA scene in the CNMI, according to Gorilla organizers, Jeff Boyer, Mark Sablan, Alfred Hernandez and Pete Sablan.
In partnership with its main sponsors, Budweiser and IT&E, they hope to introduce the weight class system which is mirrored after other fight organizations in the United States.
The Gorilla organizers disclosed the possibility of introducing multiple fight tournaments during the night to vie for the said belts.
“Our plan is to pit some of the regions best fighters in four man tournaments, or other fight set-ups, to determine who will come away with the belt for their respective weight classes,” Boyer said.
He explains that the weight classes that GWMMA plan on implementing include the following:
Super Heavyweight 265 lbs and above
Heavyweight 206 to 265 lbs
Light Heavyweight 186 to 205 lbs
Middleweight 171 to 185 lbs
Welterweight 156 to 170 lbs
Lightweight 145 to 155 lbs
Featherweight 136 to 145 lbs
Bantamweight 126 to 135 lbs
Flyweight 125 lbs and under
Within these weight classes, depending on the level of competition and number of competitors in that level, the Gorilla Warfare will introduce a belt to compete for.
“From the get go, two or three belts will be up for grabs in the November fight and will include a number of known fighters from the NMI, and some other fighters to be invited from off-island,” Boyer said.
“With the weight classes, the various fight camps know exactly where their fighters need to be well before they step on the scales, which will alleviate the hassle and potential mismatches witnessed in past MMA fights here. It can be unfair when one fighter may already be at the required weight and another fighter has to either gain or lose a considerable number of pounds before the match,” he added.
Sablan also said that there will be no surprises for the fighters.
“Each fighter we sign will know well in advance, barring any injuries to his or her competitor, who they are fighting, and their respective camps will have ample time to prepare them for the match-up,” he said.
