Weight Cut's - some would argue it's an MMA fighters most feared week and biggest challenge!?
We have all seen it. Fighters missing weight, events getting cancelled, and fighters having to get rushed to hospital.
We know the big names, such as Darren Till, who obviously cut a LOT of weight, and put themselves through HELL to make it. Some fighters, such as Khabib have almost died attempting to make weight, and many have had organ failure. Darren Till allegedly went blind trying to cut for the Wonderboy fight. I saw a video of that weight cut which I won't post here as its pretty savage...
Other fighters, such as Kelvin Gastelum, have moved up and don't cut weight too much at all. Just like when Anderson Silva had a few fights at 205. Or the joy of being a heavyweight! Others, like Cowboy Cerrone, move up, and back down. Most of the time, these fighters look small and are sometimes overpowered - other, like Kelvin, are doing great fighting at their natural weight.
I must admit, for fighters like Kelvin and Johny Hendricks, they seem to gain weight after competition, more weight than others for sure. I used to wonder how DC ever struggled to make weight as he also carries body fat he could loose, but really it could just be varying body types and diet choices.
Can anyone remember how English boxer Ricky Hatton used to balloon up and then loose about 5 stone (30kg) in fight camp?!
We know weight cutting isn't healthy - but what can be done?
But how necessary is this?
Many fighters do through intense dehydration, but why? To gain as much weight after and have a physical advantage. Some fighters cut over 30lbs the week of the fight!
Well, we all remember Conor McGregors 145 days, he was barely recognizable at weigh ins! Fighters want to be as big as they can on fight day and have a weight/power advantage. However, is it worth depleting your body? It works for some. Other claim they are very affected by it!Also, wrestling sadly isn't my forte, but I hear college wrestlers are cutting weight from a young age and throughout their whole wrestling career, and this sport may have some of the most drastic weight cuts?! Can anyone confirm if I am right with that comment??
GSP - "we are going to wait until someone dies to make a change"
Why are more fighters than ever missing weight?
I want to know the answer to this! Are they accepting a pay cut in order to be more energized for fight day? If the punishment was more than a 20% pay deduction, would they make weight?
Should UFC move the weigh in back to the afternoon?
Shout out to the fighters who always make weight! Chuck Liddell, Michael Bisping, Conor McGregor, and many more!
ONE FC - weight cut fix?
ONE FC have a system where the fighter are being tested for hydration level the week of the fight. They cannot fight dehydrated, and the management of ONE FC does not use the term weight cutting, as they do not wait their fighters cutting weight, but to fight at the weight they walk around at. ONE FC believe the weight cut is problematic as fighters are so used to it being a part of the sport.
Early UFC days
Anyone remember when UFC had just 5 weight classes? The good ole days :) But, I can never remember weight cutting being as much of an issue. It seems that since the UFC had changed their weight cut to the morning, that more fighters have missed weight than ever.
Weight Classes
Some fighters are calling out for more weight classes, such as Kevin Lee wanting a 165lb class. To be honest, 15lbs is a massive jump in weight. From middleweight to light heavy weight its 20lbs!!!
Look at boxing, they have endless weight classes! I'm not saying MMA (UFC) should adopt this, but, it would make sense to have a weight class every 10lbs, right? Up from lightweight, we would have 165, 175, then middleweight at 185, a 195 and 205...?
I would like to see fighters compete at their more natural weight.
Thoughts
This topic of weight cuts could really be expanded, I'm just scratching the surface with this post.
I personally think that more fighters are missing weight now as there is so much competition as they really want every advantage they can get! Also, its harder to make weight as fighters get older, Romero for example.
I don't think that (UFC) weight cuts should be moved back to the afternoon/evening, but I do think that bigger financial punishments should occur. I also think that more weight classes should be added to the UFC.
Just to add, I still have no idea how Anthony Rumble Johnson ever made 170...
So, I could go on about this forever, but I would love to have a discussion about this and hear from you fight fans:
What do you think can be changed?
Do you think this is an issue?
Do you agree on more weight classes?
Should fighters get weighed in the week of the fight, even 2 weeks before the fight?
What suggestions would you make?
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