Issue 136
December 2015
Sweating your way to the scales requires real science. Despite what you’ve seen, late night sauna sessions are nobody’s ally
Weight cutting is a pure science in modern MMA. That’s never been more true since the United States Anti-Doping Association (USADA) banned the IV infusions that many fighters used to rehydrate after weigh-ins. Yet, as the many athletes who have botched their attempts to hit their mark on the scales have proved, countless combatants are still doing it wrong.
Nutrition expert George Lockhart works with an array of athletes from across the world’s leading MMA gyms, including Team Alpha Male, Kings MMA and Tristar. Plus, he’s the man in charge of getting Cris Cyborg down to 135lb so she can fight Ronda Rousey in 2016. He insists one of the biggest mistakes of all happens all
too regularly, even at the highest levels of the sport.
“One of the major problems I witness is simply down to a lack of science and education,” says the former US Marine, who broke into MMA after advising Brian Stann for his weight cuts. “Let’s say you have 10lb to cut by tomorrow. A lot of people will cut 5lb the day prior and then dehydrate themselves all night long and cut the other 5lb the next day.
“The body has a hormone called vasopressin, which is an anti-diuretic hormone. It’s designed to close all the pores in your body. So if you’re in the desert and you start sweating, it’s basically a survival method your body has to protect you from dehydration –and perhaps even dying.
“When someone cuts the 5lb and then they’re dehydrated all night, this hormone goes up. The next day, they try and cut weight, their pores are actually closed off and they find it incredibly hard to sweat the final weight off. They’re just not sweating.”
The boss of nutrition company, Fitness VT, adds: “The biggest thing is not to do a big weight-cut the night before and also to keep the body cool, rather than spending time in a hot room. All a hot room does is thins the blood, sending a signal to the brain to release the vasopressin.
“What fighters really need to do is keep their core temperature down all night long to keep viscosity of the blood as thick as possible. Keep that up and you’ll keep the vasopressin down. So if the room is nice and cold the next morning you’ll be able to work off the weight easily because you’ll find it much easier to sweat.”
Pain of the drain game
When you cut water weight, you’re actually depleting your muscles – and liver – of glycogen, which is the carbohydrate responsible for providing quick infusions of energy. The human body can store around 400g of glycogen, but for each gram there are three additional grams of water that go with it. So if you drain the water out, you drain the glycogen out too.
An easy way to restore your glycogen is with a bowl of oatmeal topped with yogurt and a glass of 100% fruit juice – all natural glycogen builders.
STAY READY, BE READY
When you look the part, you act the part too
Stitch Duran
The fight game’s leading cutman replies to your social media posts and requests regarding advice when in the corner
Q. Do you have a ritual you go through to ensure you’re prepared before each fight night?
A. Every athlete has a routine or ritual they go through before a fight and myself and the corner teams and referees are no different. Personally, I started in this sport 30 years ago, I promised myself that to be a top professional I had to have discipline. One of the simple things I have done is iron my uniforms. If you look good, you feel good and you will perform good.
There’s nothing worse than seeing a fighter or trainer with a wrinkled outfit. I once made a cornerman remove his satin jacket because it was so wrinkled that it made the whole team look bad!
I also make sure I have all the proper tools I need for a show. I double check I have enough swabs, KO swells, medications, ice packs, Vaseline and gloves. I take inventory the night before the fight and once more before I go down for the shuttle to head to the arena.
Once at the venue, I also spend time alone composing my thoughts and my breathing. I guess you could say I meditate. I want to make sure I am mentally strong so I can give myself, and the fighters, one more round.
Q. Do you ever get caught out watching the fights between rounds?
A. I have been fortunate enough to sit ringside for some of the most spectacular fights in history, both inside the ring and the cage, but I never forget that I’m there to do my job. I watch the fights closely and examine the work being done in preparation for what might happen next. With just 60 seconds on the clock to work, it’s imperative to try and be one step ahead so I have to keep a close eye on the fighter in my corner to ensure I can be as much help as possible. I’m proud to say I’ve played a part keeping a few of those great fights going too.
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