AR, CA first states to regulate weight cutting

There is a culture of extreme weight cutting in mixed martial arts. Changing such a culture takes time, in all likelihood a great deal of it. California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director Andy Foster has identified it as the biggest danger in the sport. Bodies rehydrate fairly quickly in most cases but the cushioning fluid around the brain takes long according to studies. Less fluid around the brain leads to more dain bramage.

Foster and Arkansas State Athletic Commission (ASAC) Chair Lydia Robertson are the first two regulators to begin the process of regulating weigh ins, and they are wisely starting with the amateurs.

Arkansas was the first state athletic commission anywere to pass regulations on weight-cutting restrictions, starting with a temporary regulation two weeks ago. Fighters are prohibited from gaining more than 7.5 percent of their body weight back between weigh ins and the day of the fight, or from being more than one weight class higher.

The rule was passed in an emergency hearing before the relevant Arkansas legislature subcommittee, after six fighters were transported to the hospital at a single event; four of them for issues directly related to dehydration.

ASAC did a study of weight at weigh in vs. weight at fight, and found that 45% of fighters gained over 15% of their body weight. The Association of Ringside Physicians recommends a cap of 5%.

“Somebody had to be first, right?” said Robertson to Marc Raimondi for MMAFighting.com. “If it’s for the safety of the fighters, I’ll always be proud of the commission for their vote.”

“Our hope is that by catching fighters early in their career that we will be able to provide guidance and education, so that they won’t undertake the very dangerous weigh-cutting practices that have led to so many deaths.”

“Many times a blind person can tell if a person is dehydrated/ A good ringside physician should not miss that. That’s our hope.”

On Jan 1 the CSAC will debut a system similar to the one used in NCAA wrestling, enacted after three wrestlers died within 33 days. The commission will test fighters and determine a minimum healthy weight, which will determine the lowest weight class they can compete in.

“You have a traumatic event with the massive dehydration,” said Foster. “Then you have another event with the rapid rehydration. Your brain barrier is not totally restored. Then you have a fight, which is yet another event. We do these three things and we expect a positive outcome.”

Foster also discussed the USADA prohibition on UFC fighters using an IV, which is coming in October.

“If you need an IV to rehydrate, you may be in the wrong weight class,” said Foster. “I think that’s a fair statement. At the same time, let’s not sit around and blame fighters. The main thing is the health and safety of these athletes. That’s the main thing. We have to really think of this IV ban. I’m supportive of it in principle. But these guys are doing this so long, we have to be really careful and thoughtful.

“I myself would rather the athlete be hydrated properly than for us to say ‘you can’t do it’ and somebody gets hurt.”

These are the first two steps in a process that will spread across the sport and to the professionals.

Further, everyone who loves this sport can try to educate themselves on the subject. A great place to start is a memo Foster issued about the dangers of weight cutting, prepared by the Association of Ringside Physicians.

THE DANGERS OF CUTTING WEIGHT AND DEHYDRATING

Unhealthy and dangerous weight loss practices continue to be a serious problem in combat sports. One recent study found that 39% of MMA fighters were entering competition in a dehydrated state. Heat illness and death in athletes have already happened in the sports of wrestling and MMA.

It’s been shown that excessive weight loss, rapid weight loss, and repeated cycling of weight gain/loss causes decreased performance, hormonal imbalance, decreased nutrition, and increased injury risk. Other life-threatening problems associated with improper weight loss and dehydration include:
•Decreased Muscle Strength and Endurance: Decreased blood flow to muscles makes them work less well.
•Decreased Heart and Cardiovascular Function: The heart works harder and less efficiently.
•Reduced Energy Utilization, Nutrient Exchange and Acidosis: With decreased blood flow to tissues nutrients don’t get delivered, and the body’s waste products do not get
removed as well. A buildup of acid occurs which ch anges cells’ functions in the body.
•Heat Illness: This takes on four forms: heat cramps, heat syncope (loss of consciousness), heat exhaustion, and heat stroke (which may be fatal). Dehydration results in decreased blood flow to skin and muscles. This is followed by decreased ability to regulate body temperature. The ability to sweat becomes impaired and core body temperature can rise. This increases the threat of all of these to poorly hydrated athletes doing strenuous workouts.
•Decreased Kidney Function: Dehydration leads to decreased kidney blood flow and decreased kidney function. This contributes to the problems listed in the points here, in addition to decreased urine output, concentrated urine, and leakage of protein into the urine. (It is not known if these changes can result in permanent kidney damage.)
•Electrolyte Problems: Decreased kidney function results in imbalances of electrolytes such as unhealthy increases in potassium and sodium.
•Mood Swings and Mental Changes: All of the above contribute to increased mood swings, poor concentration and focus, disorientation and other mental changes.
•Eye Trouble: Dehydration can cause blurred vision and dry eyes.
•Increased Risk of Brain Injury: There are likely increased risks of brain bleeding and concussion.

DON’T:
•Don’t use extreme methods for making weight such as excessive heat methods (rubberized suits, steam rooms, saunas), excessive intense bouts of exercise, vomiting, laxatives and diuretics.
•Don’t use dehydration as a mainstay of making weight. In addition to the above, it puts you at risk of improper rehydration techniques when, in reality, proper re-hydration takes several hours to days. (Many cases intravenous fluids being used for rehydration after weigh-ins have been reported – this is a doping violation with several organizations.)
DO:
•Commit to year-round proper diet and training for proper weight control and body composition.
•By maintaining your weight year round near an appropriate competition weight and not competing in a weight class outside your appropriate weight class you will help avoid large swings in weight.
•Maintain a good state of hydration by drinking fluid throughout the day and staying hydrated during workouts.
•Follow nutritional programs that meet your needs for adequate amounts of calories from a balanced diet high in healthy carbohydrates, the minimum requirement of fat, and appropriate amounts of protein.
•Be wary of nutritional supplements as they are not regulated by the FDA and some have been shown to be harmful.

For more information visit: associationofringsidephysicians.org.