Probably a good thing that movies use unrealistic noises during fight scenes, because that knee-to-face noise is horrifying
Was that a free TV on Fox event? Completely missed it. Sounds like it was pretty entertaining based on the comments.
War Machine's latest fight listing on wikipedia made me chuckle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Machine_(mixed_martial_artist)
California’s quest for weight-cutting reform is marching on with a proposal for sweeping changes to the sport of mixed martial arts. A 10-point plan to combat extreme weight cutting, which includes a fight-day weight check for athletes, will be submitted by California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive officer Andy Foster to the commission’s Medical Advisory Committee at a meeting Saturday in Los Angeles, per a document posted to the CSAC website. The results of that discussion will be brought to the full commission to be voted on May 16. The ambitious plan includes licensing fighters by weight class; the addition of new weight classes; making fighters move up a division if they miss weight more than once; dehydration checks; and 30-day and 10-day weight checks for high-level title fights. Perhaps the biggest change would be a weight check on fight day to see if the athlete gained back more than 8 percent of his or her body weight after weigh-ins. Per the proposal, if the fighter puts on more weight than the 8 percent, the fight might not be cancelled, but that fighter could be made to go up in weight for his or her next bout. On average, the majority of MMA fighters at every level gain back more than 8 percent of their body weight between the weigh-ins and the fight. For example, a featherweight fighter weighs in at 145 pounds, but will likely step into the cage at more than 156.6 pounds, which is an eight-percent increase from 145. An increase in penalty for fighters who miss weight at the official weigh-ins has already been put in motion and is part of the 10-point plan. Last week at a CSAC meeting, Foster said he would begin drafting contracts that would change the way fighters are fined for missing weight. Now, in addition to the current fine, 20 percent will be taken from the win bonus of the fighter who misses weight and that money will be given to the opponent who made weight. Previously, only the show money was fined 20 percent, with half going to the commission and half going to the opponent. This new rule would only come into play if the fighter who misses weight wins the bout. Here’s a glance at some of the other proposed provisions in the 10-point plan: Spoiler Licensing by weight class: Fighters must put on their license application their lowest intended weight class. Additions to the application will include questions about dehydration and whether or not the fighter has ever missed weight. Based on that information and a physical examination, the doctor and commission will determine if that weight class is safe for the athlete to make. The licensing process is usually done months before the fight. New weight classes: This was already proposed by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports (ABC) rules committee and and medical committee last year, but did not garner much support from promoters and was not brought to a vote by the full ABC body. The ABC, which governs the Unified Rules of MMA, would need to pass this in order for it to take effect. The proposal states that weight classes should be 10 pounds apart until the heavier divisions — 125, 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, 185, 195, 205, 225, 265. That’s an addition of four new weight classes and the elimination of one - 170. Database change: Foster has already requested the ABC database, which commission directors use to communicate with other commissions regarding license status of fighters, and official ABC record keeper mixedmartialarts.com to include weight classes in their information provided to commissions. CSAC also wants the matchmaker to list the weight of the fighters at the time the fight was signed. Weight offenders: If a fighter misses weight more than once, CSAC is proposing to require that fighter to move up a division until a doctor determines the lower weight is healthy for the athlete to make. Dehydration checks: Specific gravity testing on athletes by doctors to determine if they are dehydrated at the official weigh-in and the fight-day weight check. This is already something CSAC is doing on fight days in certain cases. WBC-style weight checks: The boxing sanctioning body does weight checks 30 days and 10 days out of high-level title fights. CSAC wants to bring something like that to MMA. The issue would be how to accurately communicate the fighters weights to commission officials if no inspector is on site.
And here I thought Trump was going to further decimate the middle class. Jacare needs a title fight though. So I guess that helps speed it up before he calls it quits.
I just re-watched DC vs. Rumble 1.. my god I would hate to fight DC if I were in that division. The dude just absolutely smothers you, puts every pound of his weight on you, and suffocates you. Rumble could barely stand after two rounds.
these changes aren't going to have a huge effect. More weight classes means fighters will try to fight in more weight classes. More weight classes adds confusion. These fighters are not going to look at that and say - cool, I can fight comfortably at 145 now and not have to worry about the cut to 135. They are going to say - cool, I can cut to 135 and win a belt, AND also fight at 145 and have 2 belts. You aren't going to see fighters stay in their weight class, you are going to see a lot more movement and crossover between weight classes. The subjectivity of a doctor determining if it's "healthy" for a fighter to make weight is silly. none of this is healthy. So you are going to make a guy who missed weight by 1 pound be subject to a doctor's recommendation, but the guy who looks like skeltor and makes weight can carry on without a doctor signing off? It's strange. You are going to have situations where a guy misses a 175 weight, and the doctor will say - this particular fighter's "healthy weight" is 208. Now what?? He has to jump up 2 weight classes to fight now? Because truthfully, probably 95% of the fighters are not fighting in a "healthy" weight class for them, they are fighting in the weight class where they can make the cut, add the weight, and be in reasonably good condition to fight. If you are going to have a doctor determining "healthy" fight weights, then do that across the board, for every fighter. But I still don't like a doctor making that call. And penalties are not a great approach either, IMO. Most of these guys aren't looking 2, 3 years/fights ahead. They want to win the fight in front of them. I think they are over-complicating this. It's not tough to get a fighter's average weight over a time period. A month before the fight? Weigh these guys every other day, twice a week, at random. New rule: fighters must fight +-3% of their average weight. Make the next year a trial period, where all fighters are weighed 5 times the month before the fight, and before they make their cut. That will give every fighter an idea of what their average weight is without having a huge effect on fights right now, like a sudden rule change will inevitably have. So let's say Connor fights twice next year. His average weight in the first fight (5 random weights within 1 month of the fight) is 171. His second fight his average weight is 170. So he knows that he can fight at 165 if he watches his weight the entire month before the fight, or he can fight at 175. But he cannot fight at 155 if his average 1-month weight is in the 170's.
thinking about it again, these new regulations are dangerous. They are going to put an even bigger emphasis on making weight. Now if you don't make weight it's bad, but under these regulations if you don't make weight, you could be completely fucked, your career might be over. The idea is that the threat of that will force people to be safer, but the reality is it will force people to be even more reckless to make that weight and avoid the negative repercussions.
The easiest fix is to just make people make weight for several days leading up to the fight. If you're fighting at 145, you have to weigh in at 145 or less each day for the 5 days leading up to the fight. That stops weight cutters.
What's stopping that guy from cutting serious weight 5 days before the fight? Just like drug tests, they should be randomly weighed all the time. And now you can force them to fight closer to their walk around weight.
If you can cut a ton of weight and keep it off for 5 days and then fight on day 6, then hates off to you. I'm guessing most people would die.
I would just randomly weigh them. I'd pop in at their house as soon as the fight is set. I think there should be random weigh-ins at all times. This shit is super fucking dangerous. These guys are literally killing themselves to make weight.
Fine with most of it. Promotions can/will dictate how many belts one can/cannot hold simultaneously thus negating that issue. I love the miss weight more than once and you're relegated to the next weight class up; as it should be. Only thing I'd reconsider is the arbitrary 8% weight gain post weigh-ins. Make weight, pass medicals, the end.
These are just proposals, they're not rules yet. I'm sure there will be adjustments and Nevada is probably looking into it as well, and most states following the NSAC with MMA and Boxing rules.
Right. I think to be effective, the proposal has to do this: get fighters to enter the ring and fight at their ideal "walking around" weight. Whatever accomplishes that will be what makes the sport safer. I don't see any of the above proposals accomplishing that.
If they cut the rehydrate period from 36 hours (Friday 10am to Saturday at 10pm) to 5 minutes, it'll cut down on the weight cuts. Fighters aren't going to get into the ring completely dehydrated. They are dumb but not that dumb.
I'll bet more would than you think. Especially if the penalties for missing weight are increased. you are suggesting that fighters are weighed before the fight? Like 5 mins before the fight?
I view weight cuts much like roids in MLB. Everyone did it when there was no punishment. As soon as they started banning people for 100 games for getting popped they players put the shit down. The same would happen here. Guy wouldn't risk missing weight if there was a severe penalty.
I want to be at the event where 6 of the 10 fights don't happen because the fighters miss weight. That riot would be fun. I like the idea, in theory, but I think it could be a disaster in practice. Roids in MLB and cutting weight are different. The more severe you make the penalty for missing weight, the more you are going to encourage guys to do whatever it takes to make that weight. When it's 3 days out and they are not going to make weight, they will be as dangerous as they need to because no way are they giving up 50% of their pay. It's not the same in baseball, roids are a long game. you have to take them months in advance, cycle off, it's a complicated process. When you are locked in to a contract, you've made the commitment to be at a certain weight, and have 4 days to lose 12 pounds or else you lose money, get suspended, etc., that's not complicated. You either drop that weight or your life is fucked. So guess what you are going to do? Whatever it takes. You are looking at it the wrong way. You have to penalize the big drop in weight, NOT missing weight. Harsher penalties on missing weight makes it imperative that guys make weight = more dangerous, not less.
Disagree. Weigh 7-10 days before fight, 5 days before fight, 2 days before fight, and then right before fight. They are in town 7-10 days before the fight. No reason to not weigh them a few times. As for penalty, we're just going to disagree. If it's stiff enough, guys will eventually stop. In baseball, guys haven't in general come up with elaborate plans to beat the test. They just stopped the roids. Make the penalty for missing weight stiff enough and guys will eventually fight in their natural weight class or one class down, not 2-3 down.
I actually think your idea could work.. Initially it would really fuck some fighters up meaning the events would be fucked as well, but I think it would make guys take this shit seriously. The penalty needs to be severe either way.