Weight cutting is something that many sports do. Combat sports are no exception. Many athletes start from an early age. MMA, boxing, and wrestling are some of the few that filter their competitors via weight classes.
The basic outline of cutting weight in sports is to reduce the weight of your body, so it fits a certain weight class. The means by which you do it and the lengths you go determines if it is extreme or not. It is common amongst fighters to completely deplete yourself of food and water to slim down to the weight division.
Weight Gaining
A lot of MMA fighters often share their weight and post-fight habits. Former lightweight champion joked about his love for tiramisu. Ex-double champion Daniel Cormier even made a music video about his love for cake (and chicken). Both have had issues with weight cuts in their careers.
Current UFC superstar Paddy, ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett, often documents his extreme weight loss ahead of his fights. The lightweight often blows up to around 200+ lbs outside of a fight camp. The Liverpool-born fighter then proves many people wrong and cuts all 50+ lbs of fat and hits the scale at the correct weight. The fighter gains such large amounts of weight by gorging upon foods that he is not allowed during fight camp.
Medically Discouraged
It is proven that this extreme weight cutting can cause serious harm to the human body. Even as recently as UFC 279, where Khamzat Chimaev was advised by doctors to stop cutting weight. This left him around 8 pounds over the welterweight limit, forcing the UFC to completely rearrange the card. Careers can be broken and made due to weight cutting.
This week former UFC fighter Aspen Ladd was released by the company due to multiple failed weight cuts. The bantamweight had made it a common occurrence to miss weight. Now, the once up-and-coming prospect of the bantamweight division is a free agent. Ultimately proving how to make or break the art of weight cutting is in the sport of MMA.
There was a time that the UFC used to allow their fighters to rehydrate via IV bags. The anti-doping association changed the rule when it partnered with the UFC. Now fighters need to strictly cut their weight and naturally rehydrate.
Whilst the IV bags were banned as a deterrent to hiding banned substances, they still made it harder to rehydrate post-weight-cut.
Many fighters fight through the extreme, against doctors’ wishes, to make the weight of their respective weight class. Some do it easier than others. Fighters have even claimed to have lost sight during weight cuts.
Some may argue it is just part of the sport of MMA, and others may state it is time for a change in the weight-cutting model.
Wrestlers Advantage
Matt Hughes, Daniel Cormier, and Jon Jones are just a few of the spectacular wrestlers that have entered the UFC and become champions in their respective divisions.
In many countries, wrestling is a massive sport. A lot of wrestlers, since the dawn of MMA, have seen themselves change their career path from wrestling to mixed martial arts.
Most wrestlers begin their athletic careers at an extremely young age and, with that, begin cutting weight also. The advantage many wrestlers, therefore, may have over other athletes in MMA is they have been accustomed to the serious weight loss for some time. Although it is not the same, since there are usually more weight brackets in wrestling, it means they may have their technique of the weight cuts more precise than their possible opponents. There are many MMA fighters who have no previous sporting history, and things like cutting weight are still a new challenge for them.
Not Easy for All
This is not to say, however, that some ex-wrestlers have missed weight in the past. Kevin Lee, for example, wrestled all the way up until college until he dropped out to focus on his MMA career. The ‘Motown Phenom’ missed weight two times during his time with the UFC, ultimately forcing him to take a spell at welterweight.
This didn’t last very long, however, as he made one more successful trip back down to 155 lbs and one failed attempt too. Since then, Lee has moved to Eagle FC, where he competes in the 165 lbs division, which will be looked at further.
Yoel Romero is another wrestler (Olympic level) who may have just pushed his body a little bit too far to make the 185lbs division he once resided in. The former Olympian missed weight on occasion including in a title fight against Robert Whittaker at UFC 225. Cuban-born Romero, now 45, fights in the 205lbs division.
With infamous wrestlers like Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier being some of the few double champions the UFC has had, it is a credit to the wrestlers who had perfected the art of cutting weight. But does wrestling prior give them an advantage? Many fighters would say yes. The sheer experience and preparation a lot of wrestlers receive for a career in sports even before they decide to compete in MMA is an advantage for them. Not having to learn how to cut weight along the way will be a massive boost for a fighter.
Not only will this help them physically, but it means they can focus sheerly on the fight, knowing they can cut the weight (usually).
The ONE Weight Cut Method
The Asian-based combat sports organisation ONE Championship have a strict policy on weight cutting.
The globally followed organisation have made it clear that its athletes are to fight at their normal weight.
This entails that they by no means cut weight in a way that would harm them. ONE has successfully done this by making all their athletes take ‘hydration tests’ during the event day. If one of the competing athletes fails to pass the hydration test, they are subsequently pulled from the card.
This has proven for a healthier approach to fighting. Fighters like Demetrious Johnson have claimed they are fans of their approach. This will be an attraction for ONE.
Many fighters will be glad to fight at an uncompromising weight. Especially against other fighters who also aren’t coming down from 30+ lbs above their walk-around weight.
Time for Change?
As mentioned prior, Eagle FC have a 165lbs division. The organisation run by UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has opened a new opportunity for the likes of Lee, that struggled to make weight. Nurmagomedov himself was often someone who MMA fans claimed would benefit from a 165lbs division in the UFC.
Dana White is clear on his stance on adding weight divisions. But would his fighters benefit from more weight classes?
Adding a possible 165 division or a 195 division would fill a gap that many fighters struggle with. Between lightweight and welterweight, there is a 15lbs gap, the same between welterweight and middleweight.
Between middleweight and light heavyweight, there is a staggering 20lbs gap. Many fighters, such as Anthony Smith and Khalil Rountree, have moved up to light heavyweight because of this.
It’s possible MMA promoters wouldn’t want their divisions completely thinned out, or similar to boxing, and have so many champions it is hard to keep track of.
However, with a roster like the UFC’s, it probably could be afforded to maybe add one or two more weight classes. Arguably creating a new home for certain fighters. Certainly, ones that may benefit from less focus on the weight cuts and more on the training camps.
Although it’s unlikely to happen any time soon, the likelihood of the weight-cut model changing is increasing. More and more fighters are torturing themselves to make weight. MMA is an ever-growing sport with more medical professionals involved than ever. It is likely not everything will be allowed to stay the same forever.
Featured image credits to ANNA BOYIAZIS
