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can u explain weight classes please

4K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  John8204 
#1 ·
I dont understand the weight class stuff. I just watched a video where gsp said tiago alves was 205lbs when he fought him. I thought 170lb devision was supposed to be 170 give or take a lb or two. I know im obviously a noob.

Can someone explain this to me?
 
#3 ·
You don't walk around at the weight you fight at. Have you ever heard of a "weight cut"? Basically fighters walk around 15-20 lbs over what they fight at and the week before their fight they sweat off the weight. Immediately after weight ins they put the weight back on and fight at their regular weight.

Let me give you a situation...

If I walk around at 155 and I want to fight at 135. I will cut the weight to make the limit and then rehydrate myself.

Now before you ask if that's unfair or whatever, you should just know that the more weight you cut, the more depleted and drained you will be fight night. Anthony Johnson walks around at 220 and fights a WW.
 
#4 ·
All fighters cut weight the weight classes are

HW - 265
LHW - 205
MW - 185
WW - 170
LW - 155
FW - 145
BW - 135

Some fighters have huge cuts, Anthony Johnson goes from LHW to WW, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem likely go from 290/280 to 265. The cut's are basically just water weight.
 
#7 ·
hmm

So why dont they just fight at what weight they naturally are without cutting? i mean isnt cutting alot of water weight taxing on the body...

If i walked around normally at 170 , why would i fight at 155 and cut weight, instead of fighting at 170?


AM i missing something...


P.s. thanks for all the responses.
 
#9 ·
So why dont they just fight at what weight they naturally are without cutting? i mean isnt cutting alot of water weight taxing on the body...

If i walked around normally at 170 , why would i fight at 155 and cut weight, instead of fighting at 170?


AM i missing something...


P.s. thanks for all the responses.
Yes its extremely taxing on the liver and kidneys. And they do it for an advantage over their opponent.
 
#8 ·
Fighters don't usually fight at their natural weight. Most of them cut weight to be able to fight at a lower weight class. The weight they cut is not (usually) fat but water because it goes faster and you can get it all back in a day or two. They basically get dehydrated. Forrest Griffin is said to walk around at 240lbs but he fights at 205lbs so let's say he cuts 35lbs of water by saunaing (and/or other measures) and weighs in at 205lbs. Then the process of re-hydration begins, so what they basically do is start drinking again (not sure if IVs are legal but that would be another possibility). By the next day (fight day) he could theoretically be totally re-hydrated and in fact weigh more than 205lbs.

Fighters do it to gain a size advantage over other guys. Obviously nobody wants to give up that advantage so everybody does it (with few exceptions, most Japanese fighters don't cut much weight). There are extreme cases like Anthony Johnson who fights at 170 but looks as big as any 205er.

There are also negative side-effects. Obviously dehydration isn't a good thing for your body, especially for your kidneys. Losing so much water can be hard on your body and sitting in a sauna doesn't help much. In fact sitting in a sauna in counter indicated when you're already suffering from dehydration.
 
#18 ·
BJ Penn is pretty much the only fighter under HW in the UFC who doesn't cut any weight what so ever and he has actually put on some weight from when he fought at 155. When BJ originally fought at 155 he was under 155lbs as well.
 
#19 ·
You need an extreme speed and athletic advantage to avoid from cutting (excessive) weight and fighting in your weight class.

Heavyweight has the least amount of depth and talent so you can get away with a large weight disadvantage, presumably if you can make up the difference with skill.
 
#24 ·
There are a few fighters that don't cut weight. I think Maynard puts on weight to make 155, lol.

Most fighters cut at least 10-20 pounds though to drop down a class -- ie walk at 180-190 but cut to 170 to make WW. Most fighters don't walk at exactly the limit of a class, and cutting a few pounds to drop a class isn't too difficult/taxing for most athletes, and can give an advantage against a smaller opponent.

It can be taxing on your body, but if it's done responsibly it's not too bad. If you attempt what Leben did against Munoz though, then that's another story. 20+ pounds in under 24 hours before weigh-in's is just asking to be gassed a day later at the fight.
 
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