Every combat sports athlete rues the day that they have to cut weight for their weigh in.
It is a necessary part of every combat sport; boxing, kickboxing, MMA, etc.
Unfortunately, there is no way to avoid it.
Some fighters are more skilled than others when it comes to cutting weight.
And yes, it is a skill.
To read the previous part of this series of articles, click here.
Fighters sometimes jump weight classes for better competition. This requires them to lose a bunch of weight in a hurry. Meeting that weight requirement can be tough. But gaining that weight back can be an advantage for the fighter on match day.
It is considered highly unprofessional when fighters are unable to meet their fight goals.
So this unavoidable practice is set. There is no way around it.
You have to cut weight as surely as you have to fight your opponent. When you are cutting weight you have to remember the following practices:
Cut Weight to Gain the Advantage
As mentioned above, the advantage that cutting weight offers can be a big one. How?
More Weight
When a fighter steps on to the scale on weigh in day, he has lost about 10lbs to 30lbs of weight. After the weigh in the fighters are given time to rehydrate their body.
This is where the advantage comes in. Fighters can gain back some of that weight, some can get back all of that weight. This gives them a weight advantage over their opponent.
It will be harder to push you around when you weigh 20lbs more than your opponent.
Harder Hits
It is basic physics; the bigger you are, the harder you hit.
When you are inside the ring and you have the weight advantage over your opponent, you will also have the hitting power on your side.
The premise here is that your hits will tire the opponent out quickly, thanks to the power. Everyone knows that an exhausted opponent is just begging for you to finish the fight.
There is no better upper hand to have than this one.
The Technique
Cutting weight requires technique.
Some fighter, especially in the amateur circle, can cause harm to their body when they cut weight.
You need to develop your own regime to cut weight without causing any damage to your body. Because you know that you will be feeling that damage when you step into the ring.
Some fighters perform regular exercises while wearing a good sauna suit.
One technique is a salt bath.
Another is taking laxatives, as unappealing as it sounds.
The most popular technique among fighters, however, is lowering the amount of water they drink.
Whichever technique you adopt, remember that you don’t overdo it as there are risks involved.
Health Risks
You will have to lose a lot of weight rapidly if you haven’t planned out your weight loss from the beginning.
Rapid weight loss is not without its risks;
• Feeling lethargic.
• An increase in blood pressure.
• The weakness of muscles.
• Disorientation.
All of these are very real possibilities. That is why fighters are always surrounded by qualified professionals when they are attempting to cut a large amount of weight for their fight.
You should never attempt it without advice from a coach or medical professional.
Your Body will hate it
Human beings need water, their biological makeup is mostly water based.
Every weight cutting technique requires you to dehydrate yourself. Your body will not like it one bit and it will retaliate by not cooperating with you.
You will be extremely tired and weak when you are cutting weight.
Some fighters find it difficult to get off their bed during this period.
This is why a medical professional’s opinion is so important. They know how much weight the fighter can lose and gain back without causing permanent damage to their body.
Amateur Danger
As we alluded to earlier, amateur fighter cutting weight is harmful. That’s because they have very short periods between the weigh in and the fight.
They are not given the adequate time required to rehydrate the body.
Amateur fighters have to practice caution when they are losing weight because they will not be able to gain their strength back before the fight happens.
It is advised that you don’t jump to a weight class that requires a lot of weight loss in amateur fighting. You don’t want your performance, health and standing to suffer because of cutting weight.
Pro fighters will already know some of the information above, but it’s never bad to reacquaint yourself with it.
Cut weight with precautions and always make sure that you are taking your best self into the ring.
Do let us know your thoughts on cutting weight and how you feel when you do it.
