Weight cutting in MMA is an issue which has been largely accepted by the masses over the last decade as just another aspect of our beloved sport and a process of which a fighter must go through in order to come in ready and at the top of his game on fight night.
Every now and then the process comes under scrutiny in the media, and most recently a young Brazilian fighter by the name or Leandro Souza attempted to cut 30+ pounds in one week after taking a short notice bout and tragically died.
MMA Plus’ Gregg Mullen caught up with top European bantamweight and coach James Doolan (17-9-2) who’s educated stance on the matter provided some logical insight.
“My final dissertation at university was on the dangers of cutting weight for combat athletes, so I’m fully aware of dangers involved and the consequences.
Unfortunately it’s a necessary evil in the modern game of MMA. You either drop the weight or come in undersized and run the risk of losing to someone who might just be bigger and stronger than you.
I’ve tried several ways of cutting and after sharing information with some other coaches I trust we now have a system of cutting in place that’s been proving to work time and time again. Our athletes always make weight and have been winning fights with good energy levels in the later parts of fights with it.
Cutting is never pleasant, it’s absolutely miserable. As a coach I monitor my athletes weight on a weekly basis and then daily on the last two weeks and come up with a strategy to cut in the last 24 hours. I’d never ask them to cut anything that’s unrealistic, if their weight isn’t coming down Ill find out why and address that. My Fighters safety is my responsibility as their coach.
In terms of different ways to approach weigh in, the ones suggested about weighing in on the day, double weigh ins etc, are if anything going to be more dangerous than what’s already in place. The pro boxing model of weight being recorded by the sanctioning body when the fight is signed and then every 2 weeks on the build up, one week out, then after the weigh in, is a system with merit but the logistics and expense of it means it would be hard to implement.
I think the responsibility of safe cutting should not be solely on the fighters, in my experience fighters will do anything to fight and in many ways are a danger to themselves. Coaches and promoters should be looking out for the fighters. There’s enough information out there for guys to be cutting safely.”
With the likes of Michael Bisping recently willing to fight with partial sight in one eye, only to be stopped by a doctor and UFC president Dana White, it’s fair to say a fighter will do whatever it takes to fight, and they’re often respected for it. With that being said, should coaches and promoters be held more accountable when their fighters are allowed to proceed with and fall victim to a misguided weight cut?
Photo: BAMMA
