Dana White says adding weight classes will not solve weight cutting issues
The Association of Boxing Commissions recently approved the introduction of four new weight classes to professional Mixed Martial Arts. A 165 pound super lightweight division, 175 pound super welterweight division, 195 pound super middleweight division, and 225 pound cruiserweight division have been approved for MMA but it is ultimately up the promotions to open these divisions for the fighters to compete in.
Issues with fighters missing weight or weight cutting has been a problem and many think that opening more weight divisions for fighters to compete in could ease up some of the weight cutting issues in mixed martial arts. However, UFC President Dana White doesn’t believe that new weight classes are the solution to the problem.
“People are like, ‘Add weight classes, do this, do that,’” White recently told TSN (via Mike Bohn for MMA Junkie). “It’s never going to change. You’re still going to have people trying to – let’s say I add a 165-pound weight class. That will only mean bigger guys will try to make 165. Everybody’s always looking for an advantage.”
White went on to say that there are specialists that can help fighters cut weight. However, from a fighters point of view, not all have the resources to bring specialists in as part of their preparation for making weight in the most efficient and safe way for their contest.
“There’s ways to cut weight,” White said. “There’s safe ways. There’s scientific ways. Nutritionists can help you do this. Everybody just wants to take shortcuts and the easy way. But there is no easy way when you’re cutting weight.”
Interestingly from a promotional standpoint, more divisions would mean more champions in the UFC. With the UFC seeming to aim to have at least one championship fight on their pay-per-view cards, having new champions in new divisions could help in that department.
Would you like to see new weight classes implemented in the top MMA promotions? Let’s discuss this in the comment section.
on 10/18/2017.
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