MMA is a competitive combat/fighting sport and strives for sportsmanship-like conduct doing its best to have compelling fighters that don’t cheat. Fighters are regularly drug tested to see if they’re using any performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids, estrogen blockers, and stimulants to get an edge on the competition. We have a history of athletes that go out of their way to find something to get an edge or advantage in the competition.
What does it mean to cut weight?
Cutting weight is a subtle way to gain an advantage over your opponent. But what is cutting weight? To understand what cutting weight is and why fighters do it, you must first understand what MMA weight classes are. Weight classes are divisions that fighters are placed into when competing against opponents with similar body types and weights, so there are no competitive advantages.
Say a fighter who weighs 160lbs is matched with another fighter who weighs 190lbs; the 190lb fighter is bigger and stronger than the 160lb fighter, thus giving them the advantage during the fight. This is why having a weight division is essential. Weight divisions and cutting go hand in hand. Weight cutting is when you lose your natural walking weight for a few days to get paired with fighters in a lower-weight division than your natural weight. There are fighter weigh-ins that determine in what division you’ll be placed. Fighters typically start a cut 5-7 days before the weigh-in.
How do fighters cut weight?
The main way fighters cut so much weight so fast is by dehydrating themselves throughout their cut. Water makes up 60% of our body weight, so cutting out water is essential in the process of losing weight quickly and temporarily. Fighters also avoid carbs and salts to ensure the best results. On average, fighters typically cut 15-20lbs. Cutting is hazardous and could significantly damage the body if done incorrectly. Fighters have access to all kinds of nutrition and medical professionals to ensure they are doing it safely. Never do this alone and without professional care.
How do fighters cut weight safely?
Cutting weight doesn’t mean starving yourself and not drinking water; this approach can lead to organ failure or even death. Proper diet and nutrition during this cut are important to keep you safe and easily recover. There are a few steps to safely cutting that will give you the best results.
Over the course of a few days, reduce the amount of water you drink, from 1 gallon to half a gallon to 1 cup, etc. as far as solid foods go, stick to high protein-based meals like broccoli, spinach, and preferably white meats like chicken and fish. Make sure you don’t add salt because salt can pull away the remaining water in your systems organs, increasing the odds of organ failure in your body. You’ll stick to 3 bland meals a day until the final weigh-ins. Please make sure you consult with a medical professional before attempting this, and make sure you have regular contact with them during the process.
What happens when someone doesn’t make weight?
When someone doesn’t make weight, it means that during the final weigh-in, the fighter no longer meets the weight criteria for the division they are currently competing in. Missing weight can have a lot of negative consequences. If a fighter doesn’t make weight or “misses” weight, they may have an opportunity to weigh in again 1 or 2 hours after to see if the results stay the same or change. If they miss weight again, the MMA director can ask their opponent to negotiate a “catchweight,” meaning a weight limit agreed upon by both fighters, to continue with the match.
However, they don’t get off that easy. When a fighter doesn’t make weight, they’ll have to surrender roughly 20-30% of their earnings to their opponent no matter the match’s outcome. Often time fights have post-match bonuses. If the fights do have post-match rewards, they’ll be ineligible to claim them. The bonuses can add up to $50,000, which is a lot to miss out on. Cutting is risky not only for your body, but financially if it’s not done right.
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