Hendricks goes to ER with weight cutting issues, Woodley fight cancelled

Johny Hendricks vs. Tyron Woodley is cancelled.

The issue of PEDs in MMA is being handled remarkably by the UFC. The issue of weight cutting is not, and it may well be the more dangerous.

Hendricks’ manager Ted Ehrhardt reported via Twitter that while cutting weight Thursday night, the fighter suffered a blockage in his intestine and a kidney stone. He was rushed to the emergency room. As is normal in the case of dehydration issues, Hendricks was administered an IV. Thus making weight was not possible.

UFC president Dana White announced via Twitter that the fight was cancelled.

On Thursday afternoon, Hendricks reported that he was at 183, a number he was happy with. Today he spoke about the failure with MMA Fighting.

“The weight was coming off fine and then yesterday my body just started to shut down,” said Hendricks. “When it hit that point, I tried to push through it, and well, it didn’t go well because then I had to go to the ER.”

“The body is hurting bad and sore from it. The body hasn’t recovered from it yet, but maybe it will tomorrow.”

“I think I have to lose more fat or move up. We might move up to 185, but I want to get home and start testing myself on body fat and try to work it down and see if that’s going to work in a mini weight cut. Then that’s when I can really focus on what’s next. If it doesn’t go go good, then it’s 185 for sure. I still enjoy fighting, just not the weight cut.”

“I’m sorry. I am learning and always will be learning about my weight. I’m sorry for this. It was going great until my body started to shut down and when that happened I didn’t want to stop because of the fans, but I want to fight again and if I hurt my body too bad I won’t be able to. I want to say sorry. It won’t happen again, and I will get better from this.”

Hendricks has a troubling history with weight cuts.

He missed weight on the first try for his first title fight vs. Robbie Lawler at UFC 171, although he made it on his second attempt. Hendricks is on record as saying that he nearly retired after a terrible weight cut for the rematch with Lawler at IFC 181. Hendricks has also discussed moving up to middleweight, something UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy impishly suggested today.

Tim Kennedy ‏@TimKennedyMMA
Welcome to the middleweight division @JohnyHendricks #weightwatchers #weightcut #UFC192

The excellent Joseph Benavidez vs. Ali Bagautinov fight has been moved up to the main card.

If Hendricks had died, something would be dine. Why wait for someone to die?

The beginning of any change is education and awareness. Towards that end, 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.