MMAFA calls for additional weight classes
John McCarthy: “One of the things that we’re learning is, we don’t get a lot of heavy fighters, fighters that don’t cut weight, having traumatic brain injury.”
Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association Rob Maysey and former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton spoke on Monday at the 2017 Association of Boxing Commissions Convention in support of additional weight classes and weight cutting measures to protect health and safety of athletes. They came to the event from Washington where they had been speaking in support of the Muhammad Ali Act expansion to mixed martial arts.
Newton spoke with familiarity about the need for more weight classes – early in his career he fought up 100 pounds!?! He also quoted the Father of MMA Referees, John McCarthy, who noted that heavyweight fighters, who get hit the hardest, appear to be suffering from less head injuries; it is reasonable to attribute this to a lack of weight cutting in the division.
One of the things that we’re learning is, we don’t get a lot of heavy fighters, fighters that don’t cut weight, having traumatic brain injuries. But we do have a lot of lighter fighters who cut a lot of weight. They’re the ones that end up being our problem. And a lot of it, we’re learning is because of dehydration and them cutting weight.
‘Big’ John McCarthy
Among the points highlighted:
•Sizeable weight gaps between recognized weight classes;
•Less weight classes increases the risk faced by fighters by leading to drastic weight cuts or fighters competing at a severe weight disadvantage against much larger opponents;
•Increases the risk of injury or death by undertaking drastic weight cuts or facing opponents with extreme size and strength advantages;
•Fighters passing out attempting to make weight following large cuts, or worse, a recent death linked to drastic weight cutting;
•Fighters have recently retired due to the lack of appropriate weight classes given their natural size;
•We have recently witnessed fighters passing out attempting to make weight following large cuts, or worse, a recent death linked to drastic weight cutting;
•Extreme dehydration leads to a host of health dangers including increased risk of heart attack and potential kidney failure.
It’s a myth that you can be dehydrated, put on 30 pounds before the fight and actually be stronger. Further, following such extreme weight cuts, the risk of concussion and brain injury increases markedly.
Dr. Edmund Ayoub, Vice President of the Association of Ringside Physicians.
The American College of Sports Medicine also urges measures to end excessive dehydration and weight cutting.
Weight Class Divisions
Atomweight (Up to 105 pounds)
Straweight (Over 105.1 to 115 lbs)
Flyweight (Over 115.1 to 125 lbs)
Bantamweight (Over 125.1 to 135 lbs)
Featherweight (Over 135.1 to 145 lbs)
Lightweight (Over 145.1 to 155 lbs)
Welterweight (Over 155.1 to 165 lbs)
Super Welterweight (Over 165.1 to 175 lbs)
Middleweight (Over 175.1 to 185 lbs)
Super Middleweight (Over 185.1 to 195 lbs)
Light Heavyweight (Over 195.1 to 205 lbs)
Cruiserweight (Over 205.1 to 225 lbs)
Heavyweight (Over 225.1 to 265 lbs)
Super Heavyweight (Over 265.1 pounds)