Weight Cutting: UFC’s Disturbing reality 

Great as always

Tony Ferguson the type of guy to make weight for no reason

Tony Ferguson's spiral is one of the saddest things I've seen in combat sports. I really wish he would retire.

TJ looking like Christian Bale in The Machinist

Maybe that's why heavyweights always seem to the the most gentle and relaxed: they never have to go through weight cutting.

It’s the most insane thing when you step back and look at it: 2 guys who weigh 190lbs, give or take, drain & dehydrate themselves massively to get down to 155lbs.....to then rehydrate in one day and fight another rehydrated guy, both being back up to like 175-180lbs. So it’s really like a zero sum game, and actually it’s a negative sum, there really is no advantage when everyone is doing it, weight cutting only serves to diminish the fighters

Weight cutting is truly brutal and needs to stop

TJ looking like frank woods when he was in prisoned by Mendez

Bulimia and binge eating is such an underrated (not talked about enough) issue, in combat sports and in general, it's so debilitating and tolling on your mind and body. Great video, very much needed topic to discuss.

This is why a dagestani will never take a short notice fight or make a quick turnaround

Can't wait for this one. It is so ridiculous that we have such a double standard with steroids and weight cutting. With steroids, it is extremely hard to stop, but we test them anyway because we don't want athletes to jeopardize their health. With weight cutting, it is extremely easy to stop them from gaining an advantage from weight cutting, but we don't do anything.

The UFC needs to introduce same-day weigh-ins 1 hour before the event. There problem solved. Weight cutting ruins mma because it turns it into a competition thats not about whos the best fighter, but whos the best at cutting 30+ pounds of water without dying and can perform the next day without being massively handicapped after dehydrating themselves like a prune. If we got rid of weight cutting, it would solve a lot of problems. Especially this crap where fighters can hop between divisions and try to do this constant champ-champ garbage. Plus it would lead to more exciting fights because fighters are no longer competing while coming back from the brink of death just one day prior. They would perform better! And they would have longer careers because theyre no longer taxing their bodies so heavily prior to each and every contest. It would eliminate weight bullying. The list goes on... EDIT: Furthermore (since this post has so many upvotes), coinciding this reform, the weight classes should also be reformed. Having such a big jump between 170 to 185, 185 to 205, and 205 to 265 makes no sense. I propose we introduce a couple more divisions to fill these huge gaps, and we segregate each division by 5 kilograms / 11 pounds. This is what that would look like: atom weight would be at 45 kg, straw weight at 50kg, fly weight at 55 kg, bantam weight at 60kg, feather weight 65kg, light weight 70 kg, super light weight 75kg, welter weight 80 kg, middle weight 85 kg, super middle weight 90 kg, light heavy weight 95kg, Cruiser Weight 100kg, and then heavy weight could be 100kg+ with no upper weight limit. I say this for heavy weight because diminishing returns kicks in hard past the 100-110kg threshold, and more size isn't necessarily an advantage. All of the heavy weight GOATs such as Fedor and Stipe only weighed around 230-240 lbs anyways, and regularly beat guys way bigger than them (see Big Nog vs Bob Sapp, Cain vs Lesnar), so I don't think a super heavy weight division or a weight cap is necessary because all of the best heavy weights tend to cap off under 250 lbs anyways. 300+ pound men are usually slower, less skilled, and have poorer cardio.

I think TJ going down in weight class might go down as one of the worst decisions in MMA history. I believe (no way to know of course) that the shoulder injury that would haunt him later was, if not caused by this strain on his body, was at the very least exacerbated by it. Going through a camp while in nutrient deficit to cut weight must be terrible for the connective tissue.

Thats why heavyweight is bittersweet. Bitter cuz a lot of them aren’t very technical, but sweet cuz they barley cut weight and knock eachother out

When the UFC Lightweight division started, the best were guys like Jens Pulver, Sean Sherk, BJ Penn, and Frankie Edgar. Nowadays, those guys would be tiny for the division and more suited for Bantamweight or Flyweight.

The cyborg clip is always hard to watch. The pain to make someone who's willing to put their life on the line fighting in front of millions, and push themselves training their whole life, it must be hell.

My first kickboxing tournament I fought at 153 and I walked around at 175 6’2. That last 9 pounds was brutal. Could not sleep because I was overheated. And this was for no money. Weight cutting sucks ass.

Beneil Dariush looking like a COD zombie on the scales was probably the most sobering moment in recent memory. Genuinely thought that man was on the brink of death. Great video as per as well. Wordplay that would make Shakespeare jealous

I remember when Rumble couldn't make weight, so got cut, and came back as an amazing light heavyweight. I wish more fighters would think about this.

Tom's jawline can cut glass Jesus Christ On a serious note, really great video on a topic that has so much nuance. It's always crazy the amount of effort you put into these

When I first started competing as an amateur kickboxer and MMA athlete, I knew virtually nothing about cutting weight, so I was extremely reliant on my training partners who had more experience than me. I cut 18 pounds in 72 hours, and felt like I was dying! Turns out, I really might have been. I have no wrestling background, so I had no frame of reference, and it was absolutely brutal. And by professional MMA fighters standards, 18 pounds is nothing. As I continued to train and compete, I got my "walking around" weight down to within 7 pounds of the weight class I'd be fighting in, just because I made changes to my diet and cardio regimen. Long story short: cutting weight sucks, and it's not worth whatever advantage it gives you, which I wish I knew when I was a young man hoping to be world champ someday. Spoiler alert: I retired after 4-3 record in amateur MMA and 6-3 as an amateur kickboxer, due to some scary post-concussion issues (another serious problem in combat sports), so "world championship fighter" was never in the cards for me.

I think just adding more weight classes and not doing anything else is just going to allow some fighters to cut more to have an even bigger size advantage. If you want to stop weight cutting, you have to take away the advantage of weight cutting. Do cage side weigh-ins without the opportunity to put the weight back on. If fighters continue to dehydrate after that without getting an advantage then that is their own fault. As long as we give fighters the choice to not dehydrate without taking a competitive disadvantage, I don’t care about fighters choosing to dehydrate for NO advantage. We shouldn’t ask smart fighters to set themselves on fire to keep the dumb fighters warm.

Insane to me that you've just uploaded this, about 5 days ago I submitted my dissertation on this exact thing. The psychological effects of weight cutting on combat sports athletes. Fantastic video

I really can't believe they are going thru this 24hrs before getting into a MMA fight!? That's gotta be the WORST thing ever. Why can't we adjust the sport to keep different people near their normal "in shape" weight? There can still be the range of divisions but off set what those divisions are. No grown pro athlete male should ever way 125! I weighed that in the beginning of High school and I'm only 5'7".. *BTW I like the skateboard in the background. I grew up skateboarding since HS. Only stopped a few yrs ago at 31 when I ruptured my ACL and couldn't skate after the surgery

I like this idea of same day weigh ins. Everyone wins, fighters have to fight at a reasonable weight cut which is essentially just their in shape weight, less tragedies, fighters can likely be more active and fans see fighters at peak performance. It’d take 6-18 months to figure out everyone’s new weight class but it’d be sorted out and we’d all forget about the current system in no time.

When everyone is a weight bully at 155 who is doing the bullying?

I’m working on rigs here in my shop , and I listen and just take my mind off work , while I hear you narrate these documentaries. The best part is that it’s free !!! Thanks man , I hope you are getting paid by RU-vid , you work is excellent. You deserve more subscribers. I love the background music lol , techno ? I don’t know I just enjoy your documentaries , no bias, nothing political, nothing weird , straight to the point and factual!! Thanks again brother

Hi thanks for the documentation iam actually doing a Presentation for my a level exams in germany about commercalisation in the ufc and how it affects the fighters health your videos really helped thanks.

Amazing video! I've also heard people talking about how 'gangster' it is to make weight on short notice and thought the same, that it's crazy and irresponsible. Can you imagine the best Olympic athletes in 100m or a marathon or any other number of sports doing this to themselves and then trying to compete and be the best they could? Then you add the brain trauma... it's a crazy situation and needs to be stopped.

Man if we could abolish weight cutting, ufc would be so much better. Same with fixed gloves. Hoping the new ones are good

I’m not even that big of an MMA fan, but your videos are so informative and thoughtful that I can’t help but watch. Keep it up man. You’re doing important work.

To end the nonsense, they should weigh in as they walk into the cage to fight.

People like Joe Rogan that say cutting large amounts of weight is a bigger advantage than steroids have little to no perspective on how brutal weight cutting is. If you use steroids you don’t make yourself easier to knock out and the majority of negative effects on your body are long term not short and long term like weight cutting. Incredible video as always you always cover the less flashy but equally as important aspects of the sport.

I really appreciate the efforts you put in to make these videos with well researched facts. Not to mention, the script is damn engaging.

Thank you for making a video about this. So many people pushing it too far, both pro and AM

The scene with the projected image over the shoulder was a nice touch. No surprise to me the scenes are as well thought out as the scripts. Great video.

Another banger man. Some of the best journalistic MMA content out there keep it up.

Quality and commentary was great dude, keep it up!

I have stumbled on your channel today and while I enjoy the serious topics in question, it is warming my heart the respect you are showing to amazing yet underappreciated athletes like DJ.

Dude. First off I have to say .. I hope this video blows up because you did an OUTSTANDING job on this man. Well done, and you got a new sub out of me!

This must have taken forever, great video, surprised you aren't more popular. Keep it up brother.

Thank you! So much work you put into this Videos! 🙏🏻

Wow this video is so well done, some of that footage was truely eye opening. Hearing about it vs seeing it has such a different impact.

You do such amazing, vital work. It's a great thought-provoking piece. Thank you for this.

Another masterpiece. Thank you for blessing us with this brother 🙏

Thanks for the video. Good stuff. I started competing in kickboxing as a teenager, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a healthy relationship with my weight ever since. It’s been fifteen years and I still weigh myself every day to manage weight, because I’m still fighting. The weird thing is that you can’t really stop as long as you’re active. I do a lot of BJJ now, and they often have ~10kg weight classes. You don’t wanna be on the wrong side of that limit.

I am glad you are giving this attention. Its insane and they need a new way of doing weigh ins.

this is an absolute masterpiece of a video. very well explained and full of knowledge. thank you!

145lb class for women would 100% make WMMA more interesting. We don’t need a bunch of extra divisions tho, maybe one for men at 165. And one for women at 145. That would allow the best and most violent female fighters to come in feeling good and get Kos

Ryan Garcia beat Haney, The ref, The Judges, The fans AND Weight cutting 👑💯

Good on you for presenting a possible way to improve the situation. The more the fans are made aware of this the more they will push for changes. The sport is never going to make these changes as long as they money is flowing, they don't care until they start worrying the fans will turn on them.

Your videos are amazing. You really highlighted some dark stuff here. Thank you for your stellar journalism.

Thank you for making this video! Its crazy that the best attribute that a fighter can have for mma isnt their strength, or power, or cardio, or fight iq, but the ability to cut 30 pounds of water without dying and then performing well the next day witbout being handicapped after dehydrating themselves like a prune. Weight cutting definitely ruins the sport because it turns it into a contest of whos the best weight cutter first, and whos the best fighter second. The fact that soccer kicks and grounded knees, two techniques that have killed no one are illegal, yet weight cutting, which actually has killed fighters and sent them to the ER is allowed and encouraged is ridiculous!

My god you just don’t ever miss. Such a beautiful and well made video mate!

FANTASTIC video. Professionally produced. Excellent oration. Can’t say enough good stuff about this video. Keep ‘em coming. I am a new fan of your channel. Thank you.

Best idea I can think of to fix it is that they get on the scale on the night of the fight and need to weigh in at the limit for the class

Khabib VS Tony in his prime Would’ve been such a great banger I think Tony would have done the most damage to khabib ever by an opponent but still lose by submission

Conor at 145 is still the craziest cuts ive ever seen. He looked like a corpse.

My man! Another banger, adding amazing value.

Jesus Christ. What these fighters go through for weight cut is horrendous. UFC is just giving me more reasons to support and become even bigger fan of ONE Championship more and more. They don’t do that out of touch, barbaric nonsense over there. And have a wider range of weight classes Well documented and informative video lad. Thank you for bringing these things out to the light for fight fans who aren’t ware this stuff.

love MMA hate MMA fans. Great video man.

Love the content! Keep going strong!

Great video. I found myself agreeing a lot, you were speaking my thoughts as I was having them!

excellent video man! new subscriber here :)

i dont get it man...its mental regardation...why dont they fight at their natural weight classes, viz a viz, tj at lightweight, islam at welterweight and so on but rather whine about weight cutting, like bro either fight at your natural weight class or just retire smh

I've been getting my friend into MMA. He asked me about weight cutting and why fighters do it. This doc is perfect! Good timing for us. Thanks

Bro you are a great writer! This video encompasses exactly how I feel about weight cutting. Great video and channel 👊

Weight cutting isn't killing MMA, either as a sport or a business. It's bad for the participants, which is another matter.

Great video

Love finding new great channels, congrats watched a couple of your vids, you gained a sub

Not just mma but combat sports in general. There is weight cutting in boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, wrestling, etc. There needs to be a precedent set to have to fight within 10 lbs of your walk around weight. Plus adding 2-3 other weight divisions at least. It's not too bad between 125 to 155 because it's only a 10 lb difference but after 155 it's 15 lbs to 170 and then 185, and then 20 lbs to 205. No cutting massive amounts of water weight the night before or day of weigh in. Needs to be a limitation on drastic water weight loss. Even doing same day weigh ins would mitigate many issues nicely. There isn't really much of a point to hit 155 if by the next day you are 175 or 180 on fight day. You aren't really fighting at 155 then.

Hydration tests should be mandatory.

What kind of advantage is it to appear heavier, when you are so weakened by weight cuts??

Well done, Mate. Very well done VidDoc. 👏🏽🙌🏽

A very meaningful MMA video. Thank you for another high-quality, highly informative video.

The fix for drastic weightcutting is a weigh in shortly (e.g. 2 hours) before competition. That still allows an athlete to cut 3-4kg if they need to, but beyond that and you cannot rehydrate fast enough to be in shape. There is absolutely no reason not to do this.

EVERYONE SHUP UP NEW MIXED MARTIAL ACADEMIC DROPPED

Thanks again very good job I appreciate you I learned a lot

Amazing video as always

I think a same day weigh in might be a solution. Fighters will still cut weight of course, but it will be very risky to go as hard as when they have 24 hours to recover. The risk to reward ratio for every additional pound of weight cut would be much higher.

Make weigh-in on fight day. Problem solved, I would think.

Excellent video. Great editing. 👌

Awesome doc. Really informative! Well done

Dana/UFC isn't to blame for fighters killing themselves If a fighters is having trouble making weight that's a sign they should change If you want to fight at a certain weight it's your job to make it

Bro if you're fat then you're fat we don't need to change what words we use because somebody's feelings get hurt, if they weren't fat then they wouldn't feel bad about it. I'm sick of Americans pushing this policing of words on to everybody. Fat shaming works, if you care about somebody and they are over weight shame them for it because that means you care.

Amazing job on this video, you definitely have skills 👏 Your style is so interesting, I love it, you definitely got my subscription.

I'm really glad you made this video. There's a massive portion of MMA's audience that are overly insensitive, and it's cringe. They look so stupid, thinking it makes them look tough.

Keep doing this man , I love you videos .

This was a fkng fantastic way to approach this subject and was handled with class, totally new subscribers, myself and my husband ❤

solid video. Great research and explanation on this topic.

But thanks that deserves a follow this is the first video I’ve watched on the weight cuts I have been interested in the past so thx

So glad you made this video

first time in a RU-vid video where the credits start rolling and i’m just sat there thinking wow do i rlly wanna do this not the rest of my life, i make 155 walking around at 190 and am seriously considering welterweight but everyone there is so much more dense then me. Amazing video

Great work mate🙏

ive always thought its crazy that any kind of weight cutting exists in mma. If you fight at 70kg you should be 70kg in the ring, why have weight classes otherwise? there are lightweight fighters that actually belong in middleweight, so whats the point? Fighters should fight at their natural/actual weight

Great job on this 🔥🔥🔥

Hugh Respect to you bro. For your love of sport.❤. Love and support from Himalay (India)

The way this guy explains the stories is so intriguing

You are a hell of writer 👏 Your economy of words is something to behold, had me smiling to myself in the shower 🚿 as I was listening to this

Unpopular opinion: Tj gets too much hate for testing positive, owned up to it and never did again as opposed to jones