Association Of Ringside Physicians Releases Statement Detailing The Dangers Of Weight Cutting In MMA

The topic of fighters cutting drastic amounts of weight for a bout has been a rising concern in MMA for some time now.

We’ve seen champions like Jose Aldo and Benson Henderson cut several pounds to make 145 and 155 pounds, respectively, and there may have been no more of a dramatic cut than longtime heavyweight Daniel Cormier’s recent move to 205 pounds for his UFC 170 squash match against newcomer Patrick Cummins.

Cormier famously fried his kidneys attempting to make weight for the 2008 Summer Olympics, a move that forced him to the sidelines. His new practices were successful this time around, but many were left wondering just what a cut like that can do to one’s body.

It’s not perceived to be good by any means, and this week, the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) released a statement speaking out against the widespread practice of cutting weight in MMA:

Unhealthy and sometimes dangerous weight loss practices continue to be a significant problem in amateur and professional combat sports. The ARP recommends that regulatory bodies adopt standardized weigh-in policies in conjunction with year-round weight management and educational programs.  

There is a growing body of information in the medical literature that presents unequivocal evidence of the danger of excessive weight loss, rapid weight loss, and repeated cycling of weight gain and loss. Rapid weight loss and dehydration have been proven to negatively affect a number of health-related parameters including: physical performance, cardiovascular function, temperature regulation, hormonal balance, nutritional status, neurologic function, mental performance, and energy utilization. These may cause life-threatening muscle breakdown, shock, heat illness, kidney failure, and electrolyte imbalances, in addition to placing the athlete at increased injury risk.

Additionally, the possible relationship between dehydration and predisposition to concussion requires more investigation. Significant dehydration also puts the athlete at risk of improper rehydration techniques — when, in reality, proper re-hydration requires hours to days.

Since MMA is still a very young sport in comparison to other major athletic competitions, the full long-term effects of cutting weight have not yet been chronicled. However, an accomplished board of doctors has called out for new policies and education on the topic, with their main tenet being weigh-ins conducted less than 24 hours before a specified event:

The ARP recommends standardized weigh-in policies in conjunction with year- round weight management programs. These would include scheduling weigh-ins twenty-four hours or less before the start of competition. Therefore, establishing a lowest allowed fighting weight (weight class) for competitors through body composition and hydration assessment is essential. Combatants should be assessed and certified at their appropriate weight annually.

This assessment should be completed by non-biased examiners, in conjunction with licensure, and stored in an international data bank accessible to athletic regulatory bodies. In this light, the ARP will be establishing a medical database to provide this and other resources. Regulatory bodies should also consider adding additional weight classes in certain sports where needed.

These programs should discourage the use of extreme methods for making weight; i.e., excessive heat methods (such as rubberized suits, steam rooms, hot boxes, saunas), excessive exercise, induced vomiting, laxatives and diuretics. Nutritional programs should also be instituted to emphasize and meet an athlete’s individual needs for adequate daily caloric intake from a balanced diet high in healthy carbohydrates, the minimum requirement of fat, and appropriate amounts of protein.

That’s quite the glaring discrediting from the ARP, who has laid forth the potentially dire consequences of cutting weights. With 39 percent of fighters reportedly fighting in a dehydrated state, they may indeed be doing long-term damage to their bodies without much thought for the future.

True, they may be making a big name for themselves and earning another paycheck, but what does that mean for their overall health? Having a size and strength advantage may not be worth the price a fighter must pay.

As the first generation of fighters ages, we may begin to see health problems arise from the draining cuts.

Are same day weigh-ins the answer to this problem? What about new weight classes? Is there anything that can be done to stop fighters from attempting to rehydrate and walk into the cage with a leg up on their opponent?

Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie for USA TODAY Sports