Dehydration is classified as mild, moderate, or severe depending on the percentage of body weight lost. Mild dehydration is 5-6%, while moderate is 7-10%. Severe dehydration is over 10%, requiring immediate medical care. Death occurs at a loss of between 15% and 25% of the body water.

During a recent interview with Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting, UFC fighter Joaquim Silva said that during TUF Brazil 4 in 2015 he cut 27 pounds in one day to make the 156 non-title fight lightweight limit. That’s 14.8% of his body weight.

I felt a huge stress, said Silva. My body wasn’t functioning right the last time I cut weight. I had to cut 27 pounds in one day and my body felt it. Everybody was kind of stressed with the routine in the last days, having to fight all the time, but I only have good memories of the show. If I could go through that all over again, I would do it with a smile on the face.

Joaquim Silva possesses the most prized quality on combat sports – gameness, a will to win greater than the will to live. The UFC has failed in their responsibility. A world class fighter will risk health and even life for an opportunity to show they are the best.

Filming for the show took place in Nevada and was regulated by the Nevada Athletic Commission. The UFC knew day by day what was happening, and failed in its responsibility. Too the Nevada State Athletic Commission has not taken advantage of the opportunity to adopt the 10 Point Plan developed by Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission. A commission’s most central responsibility is to protect the health and safety of fighters, and the NAC has failed to do so here.