Felipe Lima says his move to the UFC featherweight division is permanent after feeling the effects of cutting to 61 kg. The Amazonian fighter based in Sweden explained that the change is about health and performance, not just the result of his last bout at bantamweight.
Why Felipe Lima changed divisions
Lima said he felt too weak while making weight at 61 kg and believes featherweight is a better fit for his body. He said evaluations at the UFC Performance Institute also pointed him toward the move, adding that the tests showed he belongs at 66 kg. In his view, the decision was made for health reasons rather than because of a single loss.
That matters because Lima had already experienced both sides of the UFC weight range. He started his UFC run with two consecutive wins at 66 kg before dropping to bantamweight, where he lost to Payton Talbott in June of last year. After that, he spent more than one year away from competition.
What happened during the layoff
The time away was not caused by one issue alone. Lima said a back injury in camp forced him out of a scheduled bantamweight fight with Daniel Marcos in November. He also said he dealt with personal issues and used the break to think through the next phase of his UFC career, including which division he should stay in.
That pause appears to have helped him settle on a clearer path. Lima said the move to featherweight is now definitive and that it gives him a healthier place to continue his career. He also noted that staying at bantamweight had become complicated, especially with the possibility of being matched against ranked opponents.
Next up: UFC Paris
Lima’s next fight is already set. On Saturday, July 5, he will face Morgan Charriere at UFC Paris.
The matchup gives Lima a fresh start at his new weight class and a chance to show that the move to 66 kg can unlock a more comfortable version of him. For a fighter who said the cut to bantamweight left him very weak, the change is as much about long-term sustainability as it is about the next result.
