End the weight cut: why fighters, coaches and a veteran referee want it gone
Joe Rogan's MMA guests return to weight cutting again and again: Matt Serra and Din Thomas make the case against it, referee John McCarthy and Josh Thompson call it the grossest thing in the sport, and champions including Israel Adesanya, Belal Muhammad, Aljamain Sterling and Justin Gaethje describe what it costs them. Judo champion Neil Adams recalls a weight cut before an Olympic final, which shows that the problem is older and wider than the UFC.
Why do critics say the weight cut gives little real advantage? Show answer
Everyone does it, so the size edge mostly cancels out, while each fighter arrives starved and dehydrated.
What does Joe Rogan compare weight cutting to? Show answer
Steroids. He calls it a sanctioned form of cheating because the fighter's real weight differs from the listed one.
What is the safety concern about the brain? Show answer
Dehydration removes fluid around the brain, which is thought to rehydrate slowly, and the fight follows the weigh-in by about a day.
What are the four parts of Rogan's proposal? Show answer
Establish each fighter's natural weight by contract, add weight classes every 10 pounds, run random weigh-ins, and test hydration.
Why does John McCarthy say reform is hard to enforce? Show answer
State commissions only have authority over fighters licensed in their state. Only a promotion with its own roster could run random weigh-ins.
What risk does McCarthy see in limiting weight gained after weigh-in? Show answer
It could cost promotions fights and push fighters to stay dehydrated longer, making the dangerous part worse.
What did Aljamain Sterling experience cutting to 135 pounds? Show answer
He walked around at about 176 pounds, and rushed cuts left him drained in rounds four and five. He feels healthier at 145.
What does Trevor Wittman suspect about boxing deaths? Show answer
That severe dehydration of the brain plays a role in deaths after the ninth round. He says it is unproven and wants research.
Who dissents, and why? Show answer
Justin Gaethje wants nothing changed because fighters are adults making choices. His reason is autonomy, not whether the cut is harmful.
What did Neil Adams regret about the 1980 Olympics? Show answer
Dropping to a lighter division for a seeding while his body was still growing. The final was the only contest he lost that year.
How does Ethyn Ewing make his cut safer? Show answer
He uses a portable sauna at around 150 degrees for about 25 minutes, then ices down between rounds, because overheating is the bigger danger.
What fix do most of the speakers agree on? Show answer
More weight classes in roughly 10-pound steps, which removes much of the reason to cut.