Fighters Only

Issue 116

July 2014

All the head-turning information every MMA fan needs to know.

DOCTORS CALL FOR MMA WEIGHT CUTTING REFORM

he Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) has blasted the current weight cutting techniques used in MMA and other combat sports, saying they could result in “life-threatening” health issues.

The ARP, a committee of doctors working to better medical issues in combat sports, has officially advised against the techniques used by mixed martial artists, such as using saunas, primarily to shed large amounts of water weight to reach their division’s limit.

In a statement, the ARP said: “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.”

It also notes a potential relationship between dehydration and concussion, and recommends holding weigh-ins closer to fight time and in-turn having fighters compete nearer to their natural weights.

“Combatants should be assessed and certified at their appropriate weight annually,” said the ARP. “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.”

It also recommended educating fighters and trainers on safer weight management practices and on the dangers of prolonged fasting and dehydration.

FO SCORE: There are risks involved in weight cutting, and there have been several incidents of improper practices leading to deaths across all combat sports genres – not to mention the long-term issues. But the present methods are so ingrained in MMA that convincing people to change could be too steep a battle.

36

Number of female fighters who attended the tryouts for the eight available spots on the all-girl 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter.

MMA’S BIGGEST WEIGHT CUTTERS

Are these regularly cutting fighters putting their health at risk?

JOSÉ ALDO

The UFC featherweight champion is known to get rid of about 30lb of weight in the few days before a fight. It’s become such a struggle for him he’s been linked to an upward lightweight move on many occasions.

GLEISON TIBAU

As well as having the most UFC fights among active lightweights, Brazilian 155lb’er Gleison Tibau also regularly drops over 30lb ahead of the weigh-ins.

BENSON HENDERSON

Regarded as one of the biggest 155lb’ers in the division, former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson can drop as much as 25lb.

9

UFC featherweight Dennis Siver was recently suspended nine months and fined 30% of his $66,000 purse for testing positive for a fertility drug after fighting Manny Gamburyan in December.