Weight cutting in MMA: Hot button issue
I recently wrote an article on mmajunkie.com to initiate a discussion on guidelines to limit the dangerous practice of rapid, significant weight cutting in MMA.
It is an interesting human phenomenon how some people despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary continue to dismiss the perils of weight cutting. Renal failure, dialysis and death of otherwise healthy, young people is usually enough for most reasonable people.
Well there are people in the world who deny the Holocaust, so nothing should surprise me.
The article created some very interesting debate and made some people think. Therefore, it fulfilled it's intended purpose.
Many readers felt that holding the official weigh-in within hours of the actual fight is a terrific idea. Unfortunately, that may promote very serious potential problems.
Fighters may not have adequate time to properly hydrate, thus increasing their potential for concussion and other serious brain injuries.
Also dehydrated athletes are more likely to suffer renal (kidney) injury due to extreme physical exertion...like MMA competition.
It is important to allow fighters at least 24 hours to properly hydrate and for their bodies to adjust their electrolytes.
It is an interesting human phenomenon how some people despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary continue to dismiss the perils of weight cutting. Renal failure, dialysis and death of otherwise healthy, young people is usually enough for most reasonable people.
Well there are people in the world who deny the Holocaust, so nothing should surprise me.
The article created some very interesting debate and made some people think. Therefore, it fulfilled it's intended purpose.
Many readers felt that holding the official weigh-in within hours of the actual fight is a terrific idea. Unfortunately, that may promote very serious potential problems.
Fighters may not have adequate time to properly hydrate, thus increasing their potential for concussion and other serious brain injuries.
Also dehydrated athletes are more likely to suffer renal (kidney) injury due to extreme physical exertion...like MMA competition.
It is important to allow fighters at least 24 hours to properly hydrate and for their bodies to adjust their electrolytes.
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 10/29/2009 6:25 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: Dr. Johnny Benjamin weight cutting MMA
Categories: MMA
Tags: Dr. Johnny Benjamin weight cutting MMA
Would not it be a better idea to weigh the fighters right before the fight. They check them before the fight anyway. If they are weighed right before the fight they would not have enough time to rehydrate so they would not try to cut any weight at all.
The only way to come on weight would be by loosing fat and not water. So the fighters would know long before whether they are able to come on weight.
If the organization wants to make sure that the fighter will be able to make the weight on the fight day they can make weight measurements on random days before the fight. By measuring their body fat percentage and knowing the number of days before the fight one could decide whether it is feasible for the fighter to loose fat fast enough before the fight day. If the fighter has to loose weight too fast (which is also not healthy) he can be disqualified and the organization can start looking for a replacement. Of course the fighter might try to cut weight on those random weigh-ins too. But one could ask the fighters to drink fluid until they urinate. And while you're at it you can also check the urine for forbidden substances.
The bottom line is there are many way to make sure that the fighter is not dehydrated at the weigh-in and the best one is to weigh them right before the fight. We do not have to copy everything from boxing we can come up with better ways.
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