Dan Ige announces move to bantamweight after 21 UFC fights
Dan Ige will compete at bantamweight for the first time in his UFC career after completing a successful test cut to 135 pounds.
The 34-year-old featherweight, who has compiled a 19-17 record across 21 octagon appearances at 145 pounds, revealed the weight class change on Instagram following a trial camp at the UFC Performance Institute. "Test cut/camp to bantamweight was a success," Ige wrote, per MMA Mania. "I've had 21 fights in the UFC at featherweight against the world's best, and now I'm looking forward to making my bantamweight debut this fall."
Fresh start follows rough featherweight stretch
Ige is riding a two-fight skid and has dropped four of his past five bouts, including a stoppage loss to Melquizael Costa at UFC Houston in his most recent outing. His lone victory during that stretch came against Sean Woodson at UFC 314. The Hawaiian fighter earned widespread respect last summer when he accepted a co-main event fight against Diego Lopes at UFC 303 on just two hours' notice, though he lost a decision.
The move to bantamweight could give Ige a power advantage at the lower weight, where his durability and pocket exchanges might translate more favorably. Late-career weight cuts have produced mixed results across MMA history, but Ige credited his family and the PI staff for supporting the transition through what he called "the hungry hours." He targets a fall debut at 135 pounds.
Photo: MMAnytt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Original reporting:
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