Fighter weigh-ins are far improved now that they take place during the morning before the fight, spread across two hours. UFC weigh-ins had formerly developed into an event in and of themselves, with up to 8,000 spectators. That is, however, a happy loss given the increase in fighter safety. And weigh-ins can still generate some news.
Eyebrows raised when Felipe Arantes missed weight by two pounds, and Charles Oliveira missed by nine, for UFC Fight Night 98 in Mexico City, Mexico, on Saturday night. The fights will go on, but this, the fourth time Oliveira has missed weight, is getting old.
Chute Boxe released a statement to Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting, explaining why both fighters failed to make their contracted weight. It referenced the 7,000’+ elevation in Mexico City as a contributing factor.
“Our athlete Charles ‘do Bronx’ was invited to fight only three weeks ago,” read the statement. “Even with the short period of recovery, the fighter proudly accepted another challenge to represent Brazil and the UFC. Unfortunately, he was hampered by his recent bout against Anthony Pettis, in August, and the high altitude of Mexico City, and didn’t make the weight. Nevertheless, ‘do Bronx’ is highly motivated and will fight normally, and will for sure give the fans a great fight.”
“Felipe Arantes, on the other hand, was hampered by strong cramps in his leg, combined with his inexperience to compete in a city 2,250 meters above sea level, which didn’t allow him to continue the process of losing weight he started in Brazil, with multidisciplinary monitoring. Despite the problem, ‘Sertanejo’ is fine, recovered, and his fight is also confirmed. He will go after his third consecutive victory in the division.”
Air always consists of 21% oxygen, but the higher you get, the less concentrated air is. At the 7,400′ (2,250 meters) altitude in Mexico City, air is only 77% as concentrated as it is at sea level, and exertion becomes notably harder. If you are used to putting on a sauna suit and riding a bike to cut, that bike riding is going to be even tougher than it was. So the explanations make sense.
However, the descriptions of what went wrong raise an obvious question. If the elevation is such that you can’t make weight, then how can you fight? And if you can fight, then why couldn’t you make weight?
