Tuesday, 07 June 2016 08:05

Thoughts on Revised MMA Weigh-in Procedures

As a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), I have watched almost every UFC event.  I didn't start watching until after 2000, so I've even gone back and watched the "original" UFC events with Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock.  Back then, there were no weight classes.  After 12 events, they introduced weight classes. 

In the last year or two, the concept of weigh-ins has been discussed heavily in the media.  There was a guy who died from cutting too much weight.  In February 2016, the California State Athletic Committee introduced a new wave of regulations for weighing in:

  • Fighters are not allowed to use IV's
  • Fighters are not allowed to weigh over a given amount on the day of the fight

I am all about safety, and I see what they're trying to do, here. 

The problem, historically, had been that guys cut weight to get a size advantage in the fight.  So, let's say you walk around at 190 pounds.  If you can lose 20 pounds for a fight, and weigh in at 170, then you can rehydrate after the weigh-in and gain your weight back.  Some guys claim that they had an advantage by not cutting weight, because their bodies weren't depleted by the weight-cutting process, but this seems to be an exception to the rule. 

My solution:

Let's make it more like high school wrestling.  You weigh in the same day that you fight.  This would make the fight more competitive, meaning the better fighter wins, not the fighter who is better at the science of cutting weight. 

  • "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist."

    - President Dwight Eisenhower

More Inspirational Quotes

precision beats power