War On Weight Cutting

The tragic death of Yang Jian Bing in ONE FC only added fuel to the movement of banning weight cut. Banning weight cutting is such an elusive movement and not easily done. The UFC started to discourage fighters from cutting weight by banning the IV.

ONE FC is trying to start a movement where fighters would fight at their own weight. The "walking weight" rule would mean that fighters would weigh in and fight on the same day.

The program will introduce multiple weigh ins before the fight as well as strict drug testing leading up to the fight. Fighters will be weighed and tested up to 3 hours before the fight.

The complete details of the new program are as follows.

"1. Athletes must submit their current walking weight and daily training weight regularly. Athletes will input and track their daily weight online via a dedicated web portal. Athletes may input data weekly but must include daily weights.

2. Athletes will be assigned to their weight class based on collated data and random weight checks. Athletes are not allowed to drop a weight class when less than 8 weeks out from an event.

3. During fight week, weights are checked daily. Urine specific gravity will also be checked the day after arrival and 3 hours prior to the event. Athletes must be within their weight class and pass specific gravity hydration tests all week and up to 3 hours before the event. If an athlete falls outside the weight, or fails a test, they are disqualified from the event. Doctors may request additional testing at their discretion.

4. Catch weight bouts are allowed. However, the athlete with the higher weight will not be heavier than 105% of the lighter opponent’s weight.

5. ONE will conduct random weight checks on athletes at our discretion.

6. Athletes may petition to change weight classes outside of the 8-week competition zone and must be within their new desired weight at that time. In addition, athletes must pass a specific gravity urine test when their weight is within the limits of the newly petitioned weight class. ONE doctors can request additional testing to determine the amount of weight drop allowed over a specific time.

7. The usage of IVs for the purpose of rehydration will not be allowed. Overage and limits of weight reduction:

3 weeks to event day: Athlete must be within contracted weight class·

4 weeks: 1.5% bodyweight over max·

5 weeks: 3%·

6 weeks: 4.5%·

7 weeks: 6%·

8 weeks: +6% max over.

(ONE Chief Doctor may approve up to +/- 0.5% maximum error in any weekly weight check)"

These new rules and programs organizations are trying to enforce are mainly oriented at making this a safe sport and to make sure athletes are safe. If the UFC adopts some of these new programs or comes up with their own, it would definitely be the start of the new movemnt and other organizations will surely follow.

Do you think the new rules will catch on, do you think organizations will tighten up the weight cutting process to make sure athletes are being healthy and safe. Or is the safety of the athlete their own responibility?

#news #onefc #weightcut #walkingweight