Dana White recently went on record to say that he is “getting rid” of the early weigh-ins and is actively trying to putting it back to the afternoon. He cites how fighters took advantage of the extra time to cut even more weight, leading to more misses during the two-year period it was implemented.
In that two-year span, 62 fighters have missed weight, resulting in 15 fight cancellations. This would be double the amount of misses in the same period prior to the early weigh-ins, and triple the amount of cancellations. According to several fighters though, they shouldn’t be “punished” and lose time to rehydrate because of the small minority of their irresponsible peers who didn’t make weight.
Seems like the consensus on social media is that changing back the system would be a bad idea, as several fighters immediately expressed their displeasure.
Early Weigh inns were the best thing to happen to this sport . You are either accountable or Not . Missing weight has nothing to do with the structure is has to do with the individual. ♂️ #baddec #makeweight
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Proper weight cuts start months in advance not the week of the fight , We sign contacts wayyyy in advance and are told the requirements . If You miss Its Your Fucking Fault !!!!!!!
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Not the structure, not the hot tubs , not the suanas, not the meal prep guys , not the UFC , not the plane ride . If You miss weight it’s All Your Fualt . Why are we blaming the system ??????? Please help me here guys
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Please bossman @danawhite don’t get rid of the early Weigh inns. it won’t solve a thing . Your punishing the fighters who are accountable and responsible. #dontdoit
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Nooooooo!!! I don’t wanna suffer for the sake of other people who can’t plan their weight cuts properly! ;_; https://t.co/GEBKRBDWP7
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) June 5, 2018
The early weigh ins were a step in the right direction. I am not a fan of changing it back. Especially because a few idiots don’t have the self discipline to make weight properly
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 5, 2018
How about we get to weigh in all day, early or late, as long as it’s before ceremonials. Most fighters seem to want to get it over with as quickly as possible.
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) June 5, 2018
People maybe need to manage time better or change weight classes. If weigh ins are earlier, start cutting earlier if you need the extra time (as in night before maybe start at 4pm instead of 8pm) I also feel like most misses I’ve watched time wasn’t a factor, they were sucked dry https://t.co/RJ2mIGVOmm
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 5, 2018
Unless a super short notice fight’s taken, there’s no excuse for missing weight. Be disciplined with regime in and outside the gym and don’t take a fight you know you’re too far in lbs from given the time. 5hrs shouldn’t be the deciding factor but it is better for hydration 100% https://t.co/Jwa3uSjsD5
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) June 5, 2018
I totaly dislike this move back to 4pm weigh ins. Unfortunate the unprofessional actions of a few, take away more recovery time for the rest of us… https://t.co/Vx605i6Yf9
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) June 5, 2018
Noooooooo! ♂️ https://t.co/4YPlgtFNXX
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) June 5, 2018
Late weigh-ins means I can’t eat a full meal till 11pm-midnight (so I don’t get sick) the night before my fight so not getting proper sleep
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) June 5, 2018
If you can’t make adjustments and make weight in the am then you’re prob cutting too much and should move up imo
— Katlyn Chookagian (@blondefighter) June 5, 2018
@JohnMcCarthyMMA over 90% of fighters make weight so why are they accommodating those that miss. Making weigh ins later only punishes the athletes who do it the right way. Now they have to sit around for 6-8 hours, do interviews, meet fans, & publicly weigh in dehydrated
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) June 5, 2018
High School and College Wrestlers make weight 20-30x in a 6-month period and everyone is complaining about PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES who can’t discipline themselves to make weight 2-3x a year. The athletes are the problem, not the system. I’m done with this topic.
— Gerald Harris (@GHurricane) June 5, 2018
Hoping the @Ufc and @danawhite don’t get rid of early weigh ins because of a couple of undisciplined fighters who aren’t professional enough to put the fucking pizza down for a couple weeks and make weight….. having a longer period to rehydrate is way better for the fighters
— Terrion Flash Ware (@flash_mma_ufc) June 5, 2018
Terrible idea to get rid of early morning weigh ins. It is simply a matter of handling your shit vs not handling your shit. Responsible PROFESSIONAL fighters make weight on time. #ridiculousness @MMAFighting @ufc @MMAjunkie @bjpenndotcom
— Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) June 5, 2018
A few more people have noted that major decisions like these should at least have some input from the fighters themselves:
wow, it doesn’t look like any fighters are happy about the UFC early weigh ins ending. Even if there are fighters happy about it, all decisions that affect the fighters should be made with input from the fighters themselves. Fighters please sign a card at https://t.co/2ge9mLExJX
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) June 6, 2018
I think the fighters should be able to participate in deciding what process becomes standard
— Cris Cyborg #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) June 6, 2018
Other personalities in MMA have expressed their thoughts:
Doing away with early weighins would penalize the majority of upstanding athletes for the misdeeds of the unprofessional minority. A better solution would be to continue early weigh-ins at 9a but also allow weights to be certified during public weighins at 4p. @danawhite @ufc
— Mike DOLCE (@TheDolceDiet) June 5, 2018
It’s a huge mistake. Why is it you would change things for the small minority of fighters not doing things right, pushing the envelope of what their bodies can lose and penalizing all of the fighters who do it correctly? Does this make sense to you? https://t.co/nKvWDltUcV
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) June 5, 2018
People are missing point of early weigh-ins. It has nothing to do with making it easier for you too make weight, there is nothing that makes it easier. It was moved so the athlete has MORE TIME to re-hydrate because a hydrated fighter is safer than a dehydrated fighter. https://t.co/UVN5w19z8F
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) June 4, 2018
PLEASE! Listen to FIGHTERS and FIGHT TEAMS and DOCTORS about early weighs ins! How about our community asks those who DO cut weight and re-hydrate about what’s better? Our sport should move to be safer, not the opposite!
— Eduardo Alonso (@eduardo_alonso) June 5, 2018
So many silly opinions on “fixing weight cutting.” All you have to do is suspend athletes 6-12 months for missing weight, put a loss on their record (via forfeit), and fine them 50% of total earnings (in the event their opponent chooses to proceed with bout). Make it hurt $$$!
— Mike DOLCE (@TheDolceDiet) June 5, 2018
You will rarely see fighters who make a lot of money missing weight, and when they do it’s usually by a few. But for some guys who aren’t super ethical paying 20% of a few thousands it’s worth the possible advantage in increasing their chances to win. Sad but true.
— Eduardo Alonso (@eduardo_alonso) June 5, 2018
I heard suggestions of allowing a longer time frame for weigh ins, só fighters can weight anytime from morning to afternoon or in diferent slots. I see no way how this would be a bad thing! Let the good professionals make weight early and be safer, and others have less excuses.
— Eduardo Alonso (@eduardo_alonso) June 5, 2018
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