Missing weight

[DS66]

Would you prefer the UFC have a policy in place that if a fighter misses weight, the fight is automatically called off? Or do you like things how they are now, where the fighter who misses weight forfeits a percentage of their purse and the fight still goes on, as long as the opponent agrees to it.

It's a bit tricky, cause if Kevin Lee has a dominant victory over Barboza tomorrow, it likely won't matter in the grand scheme of things that he missed weight. His place in the LW division won't really be any different than if he had made weight, imo. So from a strictly competition perspective, it would make sense to have fights called off if a fighter doesn't do their job and misses weight... however I think most of us can agree that we'd rather still have the fight go on? Thoughts?

 

[SeattleFightFan]

if they continue to allow unfettered weight cutting, then i prefer the way they do it now (e.g. 'where the fighter who misses weight forfeits a percentage of their purse and the fight still goes on, as long as the opponent agrees to it.')

but in my perfect world i'd rather see two 180lb guys fight at 170 instead of 155. the only difficulty is finding a policy & implementation most people can agree is good and fair.

 

[jojoRed]

Cutting weight isnt a 100% science thing, even if everything goes well, your body might just decide to stop cutting weight at a certain point especially when youre cutting 20+lbs. Its a survival thing, not all weight cuts are the same so itd be asinine to cancel a fight for a fighter missing wieght. I like the current practise where a fighter loses a % of their purse to the opponent or the opponent would decide to not fight.

Its either the above or get rid of weight cutting by implementing ONE's rules etc but Im sure fighters are content with the above.

 

[Mr hanky]

I prefer things like they are now + if the guy misses weight few times, he's forced to move up permanently.

if each time fight would be cancelled because somebody missed weight, we would have even worse cards than we have now

 

[Nightgunner05]

I'd always way rather see a fight than not see one. I can understand why a fight would be canceled if someone missed weight by 5 pounds or something, but I doubt missing it by one or two pounds will make any difference. If a you can't beat someone that weighs 156 you probably wouldn't have beat them if they were 155.

 

[lofty1]

i'd prefer to see a "3 strikes and you're out of the org" rule. i think this would deter some borderline weightcutters.

 

[DS66]

If a you can't beat someone that weighs 156 you probably wouldn't have beat them if they were 155.

While I agree with that in principal- Barboza pushing himself to cut that last pound down to 155, while Lee doesn't, could potentially have an impact on the fight. Most likely not... but you can't discount the impact of cutting those last couple pounds. And where do you draw the line? You say missing by by 5 pounds isn't okay, but what about 4? 3?

But yeah, I definitely do still agree with having the fight go on. I'd always rather see the fight than have it called off. But I can understand the other point of view as well.

 

[Otto!]

Deduct a point in addition to the 20 % purse cut. That shit is unprofessional.

 

[MRT]

the current system is fine, although it obviously remains unfair.

the fighter who DID THEIR JOB has a last minute decision to either take extra $$$ to give their negligent opponent a pass...or they have to walk away from their own entire paycheque too? that's fucked up.

I think a fighter who misses weight should have to cover their opponent's camp costs, even if the fight is off...and if it is on, then the purse penalty is there too.

i.e. there should be a mandatary penalty for missing weight, no matter what, that is payable to the opponent who made weight.

 

[abiG]

Would you prefer the UFC have a policy in place that if a fighter misses weight, the fight is automatically called off?

Here’s how ONE Championship abolished weight cutting in MMA

 

[JJ Frog]

20% isn't enough of a deterrent evidently. 50% sounds about right for not respecting yourself, your opponent or the sport.

 

[grimballer]

1st time it’s a warning

2nd time gotta move up a weight for a year

3rd time gotta move up a weight 2 years

4th time gotta move up 4 years...

 

[Leonard Haid]

Fights should never be called off if the fighters are fit to fight.. Except WMMA fights. They should always be called off, unless one of the handful of great WMMA fighters is fighting. I'm hoping a Valentina fight is never called off.

 

[GrantSorenson]

In my opinion the fight should be off and the guy who didn't make weight should be fined and that money given to the guy who made weight.

I bet you'd see a lot less fighters missing weight.

 

[Luvhawky]

While I agree with that in principal- Barboza pushing himself to cut that last pound down to 155, while Lee doesn't, could potentially have an impact on the fight. Most likely not... but you can't discount the impact of cutting those last couple pounds. And where do you draw the line? You say missing by by 5 pounds isn't okay, but what about 4? 3?

But yeah, I definitely do still agree with having the fight go on. I'd always rather see the fight than have it called off. But I can understand the other point of view as well.

It appears the line is drawn with the opponent. As long as the opponent accepts the fight it's ok to continue the fight. That being said, fighters should not be ostracized for refusing to fight someone who missed weight, it should be their call with no PR or financial consequences.

 

[tenniswhiz]

I prefer things like they are now + if the guy misses weight few times, he's forced to move up permanently.

if each time fight would be cancelled because somebody missed weight, we would have even worse cards than we have now

Or you could let a WW like Thiago Alves miss 170 a couple times, and allow him to then fight at LW, which of course he will also miss, LOL.

 

[baba2008]

I'd always way rather see a fight than not see one. I can understand why a fight would be canceled if someone missed weight by 5 pounds or something, but I doubt missing it by one or two pounds will make any difference. If a you can't beat someone that weighs 156 you probably wouldn't have beat them if they were 155.

I don't think its the 1 or 2 pound difference in weight that's the concern. Its that final draining bit of sacrifice they took on their body that their opponent didn't that is the real issue. Its those last 2 pounds that put a real beating on a fighter to lose.

 

[UL]

choice of the opponent

the fight goes on
but he gets 40% of his opponents purse
commision gets 10%

make it harsh

hell I'd say 80%

 

[zulu666]

Cutting weight has gotten out of control. First, it was routine that fighters would cut the last 5-10 pounds to make weight. Then it became routine to drop not one weight class, but two. Now you've got natural middleweights trying to make lightweight and featherweight. I class it as cheating: weight classes are there to ensure both competitors are roughly the same size, cutting weight is an attempt to circumvent that.

 

[chefa]

Personally I hate weight cutting I think it is a very dumb practice. For the simple fact that not everyone can cut the same their bodies just dont take it, and I don't think that should be a skill that affects a fight.

With that said I am in favor of the harshest possible penalties to missing weight. Treat it just like failing a drug test, you want to risk it to make a ridiculous cut than risk it but if you fail your suspended the same amount of time as drug failures.

Or if you miss weight even once you are never allowed to fight in that division again.