DANGEROUS WEIGHT CUT DOCUMENTARY / Thomas Hughes 

watched some of your fights, you always show your humble attitude and caring to your opponents after knocking out them. i respect that the Fighter ^^.

To everyone wondering there has been weight cutting rules added. Fighters have to be within 8% of their target weight a week before their weigh-in and they're monitored a bit more closely.

he was already shredded before even trying to lose the 19 pounds. madness

Laying in the towels seems like hell

I’ll never forget cutting 165 to 148 for a wrestling tournament so stupid I didn’t even win lmao. Could have just saved my body and gone 160

had to pause half-way thru to get some water....

Jesus. I lost 10pounds watching this.

Imagine how hard competiting is after having to do this. Damn. There's no way ur 100% after cutting weight. Gotta suck

I can barely take a hot shower for 40mins without feeling like I'ma pass tf out...this is insane

What's up with the scary music

When I weight cut I don't do this I just take a mean dump. It will eliminate 10 pounds easy

I feel your pain Dude. I raced horses for 18 years and I pulled weight everyone of those days. Included Lasix , hotbox, heaving, or “throwing your food up”, and then there is driving your car in 85* weather with your windows up and your heater on...while in a rubber suit. We used to stay in the steam room for one or two hours...keep spraying that thermometer to make more steam come out. I get it man. Sucking on a K-Lyte tablet for potassium. Couldn’t mix it in the 8oz. of water because that was more weight we had to lose....we use to put Abilene, (I think it’s used for makeup remover) we used it in the hotbox cuz it blocks your pours. Then after lifting 20 lb. dumbbells in the hotbox, we would put salt all over our bodies so it would pull the water out of your system. All of this for what? To win the Derby, the Preakness? I’ve retired unscathed other than being injured 16 different times. Nobody knows the shit we go through man...nobody. So happy to be out of the sport. I miss the ride from the gate to the wire....all the other bullshit...I’ll pass....I hope you’re healthy again. Would like to meet one day perhaps.

this guy takes a W in my book. i would've eaten those ice cubes within 5 mins of being in the steam room

You worked soooo hard Thomas. Lucas "kept you on your feet" and told you that you couldn't go on. That's not only a coach nor a friend it's a true "brother."

Watching this makes me remeber my 12 years of wrestling. Now I'm old fat and happy

He made me feel fat watching this

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why the weigh-in should be 15min. before the actual fight.

Damn any wrestlers out there who know the struggle?

good on you bro for knowing he was past his limit

The stupid thing is i bet the other fighter is cutting almost the same amount of weight. So they coyld both just fight a division up n it would be the same exact thing jist minus thos torture

watching this is making me dehydrated

This shit is real man. Last year I did a weight cut to make 170 in wrestling and I was 180 prior to my weigh in. No food, no water and your sitting in the sauna miserable. I only had to drop 10 pounds of water and to see this guy do 17? Thats nuts.

I think a lot of us have cut 20lbs for wrestling/mma/kickboxing etc. However I don’t think a lot of us are starting at 1%-3% body fat and then trying to do it. I have a lot of respect for this guy

This can't b right .suprised a lot more people haven't died over this ..

Watching this while eating double cheeseburgers and fries while drinking large cokes was fun as shit.

It's nice to see the UFC making some strides to improving the safety of cutting weight, but to be honest the whole weight cutting system needs to be revised and more medically supervised.

Vid was good, music was a bit unnecessary as it’s not like his being murdered

185 to 145 seems like way to much for a sane person to do, glad he’s good though

Man this made me feel weak, depleted and thirsty myself. Credit to you bro. You got a big heart. And my respect to all that go through this grueling regimen.

I havnt seen this side of the fighters. This is real determination. This is why they're called fighters. The mentality you need to have in order to push thru something like this is actualy insane. If you ever tried Sauna for like 15 minutes you know how tough it is. Now he's even putting on sweat suits and some cream on him. And doing it over and over. #Mind#Set.

There was no way he was getting down to 145. He was already super lean.

It's so true. You have no idea how good food really tastes until you've been on a strict diet for a period of time.

This is an awesome documentary! It's crazy to see such a positive attitude during a cut. I couldn't imagine cutting and willingly spending an extra 5 minutes in that tub, and I think that Thomas is a very genuine guy. Really puts it into perspective how much works goes into dropping those last few pounds!

"I open the door for him" **doesn't open the door for him**

"When I stop fighting I'm never dieting again." Thats some truth. I compered in MMA for about 5 years. Ate crazy clean and weight cuts the whole time. When I decided to quit competing and focusing on coaching, I gained about 70lbs within a couple of years. And I was still coaching and training. I simply craved junk food. I couldn't get enough of it. Cookies, cakes and chips became my diet. It took a few years to get it under control ans I still struggle with food everyday.

I’m 155-165 regular. I’m a flyweight 125-129. I gradually cut off. Never felt what he felt. He’s strong 💪🏽

Get rid of weight cutting by weighing the fighters twice per day in the week up to the fight, with the last weigh in being at the door to the ring/cage. Or something like that.

Some of the most intense training ive done in my life was when i had to cut 13lbs of water weight at the end of every week for like a month and a half at 5% body fat. Its intense. Mad respect for anyone who goes through this!

So I was running through RU-vid before I realized that my cousin Lucas was the trainer this is insane!!!

I’ve done a 3 day water fast and when i broke my fast damn food tasted different

What they should have is a weigh in but also measure hydration, and you can't be below a certain hydration percentage on the day of the weigh in to qualify to fight.

This is NOT right, but I don't blame you guys for doing this. These organizations need to put something in place, immediately. This will be looked at as primitive one day.

this looks like a torture method

The music makes you nauseous.

Pause right now, and go grab some water.

For the people who cannot grasp this...... I am a guy that weighs about 175- 180 at a normal healthy athletic weight problem is I only stand 5 foot 7. Most Fighters in that weight class are taller than myself with longer arms etc. My legs ( Quads and calves are huge from running and kicking based martial arts and my arms just are genetically big due to my fathers genetics) when I used to compete I had 2 choices cut weight and be the bigger opponent or deal with the guarantee that every fight I had was going to be a bitch. Some people are lucky and their natural athletic build fits the weight class they are comfortable in others don't. Losing muscle to me wasn't an option. I tried both ways no weight cut and weight cut. To be honest its a shit sandwich either way. You can either torture yourself for an easier bout or avoid the torture for a war. Neither way guarantees a win. Hope that helps people understand why, At this point I don't think Id ever put myself through cutting again its fucked up trust me.

You also appreciate food more when you're on a backpacking trip

Great job Thomas, that was extremely exhausting and exhilarating, but you overcame it, congrats!!!!

Just watchin makes me thirsty

Gotta give these types of fighters so much respect, they push their bodies to the absolute limit man!!

6:30.... when you tuck in your new born to bed for the 1st time

Been there too many times when i wrestled. I remember i would wake up chewing because i would have literal dreams of just eating and drinking something during a cut

My heart is hurting watching this.. I can't even go in a hot tub for more then 10 mins without feeling like I'm about to pass out. This is crazy. I could never support someone I love doing this.

Somewhat misleading in the description. He walks at 185. They make it sound like he is doing a 40lb water cut. Which is isnt. He dieted to 164 and is doing a 19lb water cut.

This was actually a great documentary, great job 👍🏽

When putting your body through this, where do they get the energy to fight?

simple solution is to weigh fighters while they re entering the ring and do it in every fighting sport. this way we can ensure fair and safe fights. also the fights would be better cause they will not be exhausted by cuts.

ive had these hard weight cuts where you dig deep and have to find jesus. keep it up bro. great video!!

All for the sport we love bro, good call pulling the plug. It takes a real friend to lookout for you during that kinda mental and physical stress

23:50 images of a broken man

It's so crazy how much skinnier he looks by the end of the video.

In high school wrestling you need to take a hydration test. To see how much you are allowed to lose and remain healthy at the same time.

Absolutely awesome video mate. What an absolute stunner what fighters go through, just to cut weight. Mad praise to your perseverance mate! Best of luck to you, your family, and career. Cheers from Western Australia!!!

Always wondered how it all went down In the fight game. Mad respect for these guys. Great video.

Much respect to Thomas as a warrior! So glad this was stopped, no one should be put through this to earn a living.

This is so hard for me to watch because I've seen my own brothers struggle through weight cuts. It just breaks my heart for you. No one understands the will power and fierce determination that is required before you ever face an opponent. So much respect for you though, Thomas. I'm so glad you have a coach with your best interest at heart who knows when to call it quits. All you can do is learn from each struggle and come back ten times stronger for the next fight. Good luck!

Who went drinking after watching this?

BAN WEIGHT CUTTING.

from the start i was like "he ain't gonna cut to 145". glad to be right.

omg water is life

I was gong to make a joke comment on your haunted house post like "it followed you guys" but comments were turned off. Then I checked another post, and another. You are both good at RU-vid. I've never said that before. Wide spectrum of posts. Well made. Entertaining. I think you both could make this a job.

OMG, as I am watching this, all I can think about is "this is suicide". I am worried shit for this guy and I don't even know him.

Who else is cutting weight for wrestling while watching this ....?

I understand his feelings. I am a boxer and i cut weight most of the time but he is right that you don't know what hunger and thirst is really if you have not epxperienced it.

I thought I had it bad when I had to lose 6 pounds in a week for a wrestling match 😂😂😂

This is why they should redefine the weight classes and do the,weigh in 20 min before the fight. Much healthier and would be more fun to watch the match as they would be much stronger

I WOULDNT LIKE TO BE THE NEXT PERSON SITTING ON THE CHAIRS HE HAS SWEATED ON

I drank water through the whole video.

Awesome vid! I think its good showing what might happend and the risks.My question tho is what was that stick thing he was using on his body?

The music in the video really messes with your mood 😣😔

I'm in the midst of a cut right now, I feel your pain. When I saw 19 pounds in 19 hours I wanted to pass out for you lmao. I'm only dropping 16 pounds with 2 weeks left which is hard but not nearly as bad as this.

Does anyone know whats the name of that product he put on to sweat more?

Wrestlers wya?

Genuine question: if a guy is this determined that he'd go through 2 days of extreme torture to achieve his goal, why won't he just plan ahead of time and lose weight the normal way?

Losing 15 pounds in 3 Days was pure hell for me trying to make 170 after a concussion

i remember this past year for one of my HS wrestling duels i had to cut 15 by the start of the day before. i cut 5 throughout the first day and floated about a pound that night and then i had to lose 9 pounds that school day all before the end of the school day (7ish hours) and i made it but it was the most grueling cut i have done especially when i started to stop sweating. but luckily i had friends throughout the day basically comforting me and cheering me on i had to ask my teachers to go to the wrestling room to cut and they all let me.. but suiting up and knowing what you are about to go through sucks.. i have also done 13 pounds in a day for a weigh in the next morning by myself. it was terrible but still not as bad as the other cut because the year i cut the 13 in a day i was no where near as lean as i was this past year. but his statement about having someone with you is completely true. Oh yeah and i cant forget about how "great" it felt to eat and drink (; just kidding it hurt a lot... Great video though reminded me of "the good ol' days" even though it was not very long ago at all haha

wow thanks for this post as I have such respect for any athlete and the sacrifices we go through for the love of our sport. Most have no idea and would never be able to do this. I could as I compete in bodybuilding and just know the necessary measures ones needs to take .

That dude that is helping him the whole time is a fucking bro. Can't get a better friend than that.

Wow, this was crazy. Dude should just fight at 155.

excuse my ignorance people, so please don't chew me out. 1st time ever watching one of these videos but when he comes out of the water and he gets wrapped in towels why not just use a heating blanket? and does someone know the name of that stick he rubs on before putting the suit on that helps you sweat? I'm not trying to cut weight but if it helps sweat during a jog or walk, I'd like to try.

I'm literally watching this video while drinking a litter of water . I can't imagine to dehydrated that much , I'm feeling grateful with my water right now

I wrestle for my high school team, it's a group of boys and I. Normally I would wrestle the 32, though with a 2 pound allowance I was more like 134 pounds. My wrestling coach wanted me to go to girls states, but he wanted me in the 125 pound weight class. No words can explain how horrendous this experience was. At weigh ins I weighed 124. Long story short I couldn't even imagine attempting what it is he was trying to accomplish. Mad respect. 💪👍

I remember in 6th grade I cut from 115 to 103 for a wrestling tourney. I only had to be 108 but did not know what I was doing and I had barely any body fat at 115. Needless to say I got absolutely destroyed by kids I usually beat. Sometime being at your natural weight going against people coming in 10-20 lbs heavier is more advantageous then trying to be the bigger guy.

Nah just eat Ice Cubes for your whole life and you'll be on weight 😂

Wow the first full video I ever watched this coach is more like his brother watching over him and for the fighter to accept what the coach recommended makes him a champ

thanks for this it shows the struggle quite a bit

I've fasted 26 days, no food just water.. I would never ever stop drinking water. I went from 200 to 135. I could not even get out of bed by myself on the last 5 days. At my age I recall my actions and I can say I would force feed myself and then beat myself up for being such an idiot.

what is up with this editing

I really enjoyed my Weissbier while watching this, Love this shit, love the steam room not the extreme dehydration. Nice Documentary!

this is a motivational video bro. i have a fight in one week and need to cut 24 pounds. here i go, wish me luck.