Wildest Weight Cut Stories in MMA: How Fighters Push the Limits
MMA is considered one of the most challenging disciplines in the world. Whether it is the fighting that happens inside the cage or the training that goes on in preparation for the match, everything about MMA is hard work and requires a fighter. The most interesting and perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the sport is the process of weight reduction. In the bid to be able to compete in a lower weight class where one is likely to have an added advantage, most fighters subject themselves to very dangerous and drastic ways to lose lots of weight within a short time before a bout. This has been most notably illustrated in MMA, where the extremes of weight cutting have tested the human will and endurance to their limits and, in the process, produced some of the most inspirational and, at the same time, cautionary stories. What Happens in the Body During Weight Cutting However, to appreciate some of the crazier weight-cutting stories that I am about to tell you, it’s important to first grasp a few basic principles of weight cutting. Weight reduction in MMA is usually done a few days before the fight, where the fighters make a large percentage of weight loss, say, 10-20 pounds or even more. This is normally carried out by water depletion, very low energy intake, and perspiration. Calorie restriction is the most important factor in achieving rapid weight loss, and water makes up the largest part of calorie intake. Athletes deplete their body’s water reserves sometimes to the extent of 10% of their body weight in water. Techniques like sitting in saunas, hot baths, and even wearing plastic cover-ups while exercising are typical to lose weight. They will then try to recover the most of the weight they have lost within the following 24 hours in an effort to rehydrate and replenish the energy sources before the fight in the cage. These methods have been employed by many fighters to gain an edge in size, but they are dangerous and can lead to organ failure, heat stroke, and even death. Here are some of the most famous weight-cut stories in MMA history that show how far fighters go and what they sacrifice for their performance and the dangers that come with it. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson: The King of Extreme Cuts Perhaps one of the most famous weight-cutters in MMA history is Anthony “Rumble” Johnson. A natural light heavyweight fighter who looked more like a monster as he tipped the scale over 220 pounds, Johnson started his UFC career in the welterweight (170 pounds) class. The idea of a man his size being able to lose enough weight to get down to 170 lbs is mind-boggling, but Johnson was able to take his body to the extreme to achieve that. Weight cutting also became the new norm at Johnson’s camp. Johnson was also said to have dropped a staggering 55 pounds in the space of weeks leading to his bout with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104 to reach the required 170-pound weight. His body, however, couldn’t stand the pressure, and he entered the ring at 176 pounds, thus having to fight in a catchweight bout. While he was able to win the bout, his crazy weight reduction measures finally caught up with him in his boxing career. Johnson was able to make weight several more times but was constantly struggling with the weigh-ins and was eventually moved up to the light heavyweight division, where he enjoyed immense success without having to cut so much weight. Johnson’s narrative is a great example of a fighter who sought the size advantage through drastic weight cutting but then changed his mind because it was not only unhealthy, but it also did not bring the best results. Darren Till’s Near-Death Experience British fighter who fights in the UFC, Darren Till, had one of the most dramatic weight cuts in recent years. Till, who was a welterweight competitor (170 lbs), was well known for his severe weight cutting, and before the fight with Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson in 2018, Till nearly died during the weight cut. In the run-up to the weigh-in, Till could not lose the final few pounds of water weight. He was said to have suffered blindness as well as being unable to stand on his feet due to cutting his weight. During a 2019 interview, Till was forced to confess that he was dehydrated to the point of losing his sight and needed his team’s help to get to the scale. His organs were almost getting to a point of failure due to the severe level of dehydration. While Till did take the time to make weight for the fight, the experience was a rude awakening. He later on shifted to the middleweight (185 lbs), a division that saw him regain his health and form. Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino: The Attack on the innocent Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino is considered by many to be the best female fighter in the history of the MMA, but her weight loss stories are as epic as her career. Cyborg by nature now competes at 170-175 pounds, but for a long time she competed in the 145-pound featherweight category. But the toughest sacrifices were made when she tried to reduce her weight to 140-pound catchweight to show that she could one day fight at 135 pounds. This weight cut was very taxing on her body, as can be seen from the following effects. In one of the most gruesome episodes in 2016, Cyborg had tried to lose weight to a UFC Fight Night bout against Lina Lansberg that was in the 140-pound category. From the videos and the reports coming from her camp, one could only imagine the level of suffering she was going through. Cyborg was presented sitting in a sauna suit and crying with almost no movements due to the effects of dehydration on her body. It was not easy for Cyborg to make weight and fight, but
The Science of Cutting Weight: How UFC Fighters Do It
Dieting is another paramount and very rigorous process in the preparation of a fighter for the regime of the UFC. This practice entails dropping several kilograms in the shortest time possible to attain the limit of a particular division, and several fighters drop pretensions of weight within the shortest period before the weighing session. It must be noted that weight-cutting is a process that provides fighters with a size and strength advantage that enemies have to face on fight night; however, it is a process that comes with a lot of physical and mental issues. This article looks at the phenomenon of weight cutting in the UFC, the techniques used, the dangers associated with such practices, and ways of achieving the best and most healthy weight loss. Understanding Weight Classes and the Importance of Weight Cutting Divisions of the UFC The UFC is divided into weight classes to avoid a sharp disparity in the physical strength of fighters. Every class has a particular weight allowance that the fighters have to be under, which is normally done a day before a fight in a special weigh-in. The primary weight classes in the UFC are: Flyweight: Up to 125 lbs. Bantamweight: Up to 135 lbs. Featherweight: Up to 145 lbs Lightweight: Up to 155 lbs. Welterweight: Up to 170 lbs. Middleweight: Up to 185 lbs. Light Heavyweight: Up to 205 lbs Heavyweight: Up to 265 lbs. The Benefits of Weight Cutting The most significant factor that makes fighters go for weight loss is to fight in a division below their normal body weight, which in turn presents the fighter with a size and power advantage over the opponent. Weight trimming enables a fighter to step into the ring at the weight of the lower class but gain his normal weight and build up strength by the time of the fight. This practice can mean the fighter comes into the Octagon well over the weight listed on the official weigh-in, in theory giving him an advantage. Understanding the basics of weight-cutting This type of training influences body composition and weight loss. Weight loss mainly entails losing muscle mass as well as fat mass in the body of an athlete who is trimming down for a bout. However, the kind of weight loss that is applied for cutting usually implies the loss of a relatively large amount of water. Understanding body composition is crucial in this process.Understanding body composition is crucial in this process. Fat mass: body fat that involves energy reserves. Lean mass: muscles, bones, organs, and other structural and functional tissues other than fat. Water weight is the substance that is in and between cellular structures. In weight cutting, the fighters are mainly concerned with reducing their weight, and because water is easily lost through methods such as dehydration, it is the most targeted substance to be shed during this process. Nevertheless, this process should be monitored to prevent patients from reaching critical levels of dehydration and related complications. Caloric Deficit and Diet Another element of weight-cutting is the process of the fighter consuming fewer calories than the body requires to sustain a specific weight class. This deficit makes the body use stored energy, which therefore leads to weight loss. Contenders are usually expected to go on very rigid and low-calorie diets during their training camps in order to systematically strip off the fat. These diets are usually characterized by high levels of protein, which are required to build muscles, and low levels of carbohydrates and fats to reduce calorie intake. Methods of Cutting Weight Slow-Weight Training Regime During Camp The process of reducing their weight usually takes place before the week of the fight. The fighters intend to gradually reduce their weight during the training camp; they follow the program of the caloric deficit and the increase in the level of physical activity. Unlike the bulk cycle, this period emphasizes the reduction of fat while at the same time seeking to increase muscle mass through the training and feeding schedule of the individual. Water loading and dehydration One of the most common methods for cutting weight rapidly is water loading, followed by dehydration. Water Loading: They drink up to two gallons of water in the week leading to the weigh-in, especially in the last week. This practice raises the urine volume and decreases the fluid volume in the body. Carbohydrate Restriction: Carbohydrates are restricted due to the fact that they hold water; thus, fighters do not undertake heavy carbohydrate consumption. From the food groups, the major benefit of the low-carb diets is that they reduce water weight. Sodium Restriction: Sodium has the ability to increase water retention in the body. Sodium intake should be reduced so that fighters can easily let go of the water that is retained in their bodies. Dehydration: The last thing any fighter wants is to step on the scales overweight, so in the last one or two days before the weigh-in, fighters drastically reduce the amount of water they consume and employ such techniques as sweating, sauna, hot bathing, and wearing sweatsuits to eliminate as much water from their system as possible. Sweating and heat exposure The fighters utilize the sweating process to help them lose excess water weight in the shortest possible time. Common methods include: Sauna Sessions: When sitting in a sauna, the body heat rises, and the sweat that is produced dries up very fast; thus, a person loses body water at a very fast rate. Hot Baths: Bathing in hot water also has the effect of promoting sweating, thus aiding in the shedding of the water weight. Sweatsuits and Exercise: For light exercises or cardio, put on sweatsuits to ensure that one sweats. Diuretics and other supplements Some fighters may ingest diuretics, which are substances that promote urine production, in order to attempt weight loss. However, it is important to know that diuretics are prohibited by most of the sport associations, including the UFC, because they have health implications and are