Marloes Coenen: Double Standard Limits Growth of Heavier Divisions in Women’s MMA

Marloes Coenen watched with great interest as Cristiane Justino made her UFC debut last Saturday at a catch-weight of 140 pounds. “Cyborg” was successful in her initial Octagon foray, dispatching Leslie Smith in a mere 81 seconds in a featured UFC 198 bout. Still, despite the UFC’s wishes, it appears that Justino prefers to defend her featherweight title in Invicta rather than make another cut to 140 pounds to compete in the Octagon. And understandably so: Coenen, who fought Justino for 145-pound gold in Invicta in 2013, says that the Brazilian has to “go through hell” just to make the featherweight limit. Such issues are par for the course in women’s MMA. While the bantamweight and strawweight divisions have taken off in recent years, athletes who ply their trade a class or more above 135 pounds have struggled to find a foothold. Coenen will have a marquee featherweight stage on Friday night when she faces two-time UFC vet Alexis Dufresne in a featured bout at Bellator 155 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. The evening’s main card will air on Spike TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Still, the veteran Dutch fighter believes that major promotions should add more heavier-weight female divisions and give them a chance to grow. However, she also recognizes why progress in this area is slow. “There should be 145-pound divisions for women all over the world. With more competition the level will rise as well. I don’t see why there are not even more divisions,” Coenen said. “You don’t see 155 or higher. “I think that also has to do with the fact that women are judged different than men and you have to be a pretty woman and be sexy and also fighting. You have to have the whole package. I feel like the …

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