Since the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s implementation of early morning weigh-ins, a staggering total of 62 fighters have missed weight for their match ups inside the octagon. Following UFC President Dana White’s reveal that he plans to return to traditional weigh-ins, UFC Fighters have come forward with their thoughts on the matter.
Speaking on the UFC Unfiltered podcast, Dana White broke the news that the promotion will be going back to late afternoon weigh-ins.
“Yes, I do think it’s (the early weigh-ins), and guess what? We’re getting rid of it. We’re looking at taking the weigh-ins back to the way they used to be so that when the (fighters) weigh in there at the (ceremonial weigh-ins), that will be it. That’ll be the real weigh-in.”
“Here’s what I believe: I believe any time you change something, everybody looks to take as much advantage as they can of the situation. And I think that when we started doing morning weigh-ins, it was very good – everyone was making weight and it was great. And then people started cutting it closer and closer, thinking they can put on more weight because they have more time to recover. The reality is, it (expletive) everything up.
“So we’re looking to go back to at 4 o’clock when we do the (ceremonial) weigh-ins, that will be the real weigh-ins. The other thing is, I don’t know any fighters that are morning people. Most of them stay up half the night and sleep half the day, so that might have something to do with the morning weigh-ins (being a problem), too. You have to get up early to make sure you’re on weight.”
“We’re going to work with (the athletic commissions) to get it done.”
Taking to Twitter, a series of fighters have now come forward with their thoughts on the matter. Check it out below:
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
Noooooooo! ??♂️?? https://t.co/4YPlgtFNXX
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) June 5, 2018
If more guys fasted maybe they’d make weight ?
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) June 5, 2018
Or dieted correctly. 🙂 https://t.co/vlebmBk5kL
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) June 5, 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
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
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
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
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
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
@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
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
