The update, reported by Marcos Villegas, indicates Berlanga will remain at super middleweight rather than move up to light heavyweight, which had been suggested by earlier promotional material focused on Zuffa’s 175-pound roster.
That shift stands out. Zuffa has outlined a structure built around eight divisions, which does not include the 168-pound category.
That setup doesn’t match Berlanga staying at 168 for his debut. Berlanga is expected to compete at 168 despite the promotion not formally recognizing the division within its framework.
The alternative would have been a move to light heavyweight, where Berlanga has previously shown the size to compete, having rehydrated into the low 190s for past fights. Remaining at 168 avoids an immediate jump against naturally larger opponents and keeps him aligned with his recent run at super middleweight.
Berlanga was one of the headline additions to the promotion’s early roster alongside Richardson Hitchins, with both expected to debut this summer as Zuffa expands its schedule.
The situation also highlights an early tension between Zuffa’s stated structure and how it may operate in practice. The promotion has presented a reduced number of weight classes, leaving out several divisions that are commonly used across boxing, including 168.
That approach would normally require fighters in that range to either move down to middleweight or compete at light heavyweight.
In Berlanga’s case, applying that structure strictly would have meant an immediate adjustment in his first appearance under the new deal.
Allowing him to fight at 168 keeps him in a division where he has recently competed and avoids forcing a shift before he has even made his debut for the promotion.
The move leaves Zuffa in a position where its early framework is being tested by the realities of integrating established fighters.
If Berlanga does make his Zuffa debut at 168, it would show the promotion is willing to bend its own weight-class setup when a newly signed fighter does not fit neatly into it.
Read the full article here
