does the ufc force the fighters to gain weight to fight heavier weight classes?

[ChrisBaker]

im asking specifically for anderson silva, i think he could dominate light heavyweight at his normal 185lbs, i know there is a couple lb leniency for those who cant make the exact weight, but do they HAVE to gain weight?

[callsignfuzzy]

Anderson Silva actually walks around at 230, then cuts down to 185lbs. He's weighed in twice at Light Heavyweight at 205lbs on the dot.

There have been a few times that the UFC has influenced what weight class a fighter competes at. When Matt Hughes won the Welterweight title, his coach, Pat Miletich, was strongly encouraged to move up to Middleweight. Recently, Dana White stated that Yoshihiro Akiyama would only remain under contract by moving down to Welterweight after losing three straight matches at Middleweight.

Silva has said that he has no interest in competing at 205lbs for the title; he's leaving the title hunt to his friend and training partner, Lyoto Machida.