Todhunter passes out during weight cut, pulled from UFC 188

Debuting welterweight Andrew Todhunter has been deemed medically unable to compete in his UFC 188 bout against Albert Tumenov this Saturday in Mexico City, reports Thomas Gerbasi, for UFC.com.

The fighter passed out while cutting weight; UFC officials then alerted medical staff who administered an IV, making the weight cut impossible. Toddhunter’s going unconscious was of course sufficient to cancel the cut.

Toddhunter, a former US Army Sniper, is undefeated in MMA, with every fight ending by submission. However, he took the fight on less than two weeks notice, when Hector Urbina suffered an injury and was pulled from the card.

The fighter told Marc Raimondi for MMAFighting.com that he once dropped 38 pounds in four days and won in the first. Toddhunter competed in a boxing bout on May 15 at 200. This time to cut to 171 proved to be too dangerous.

“This is a really unfortunate situation, but health is the No. 1 priority,” said his manager Charles McCarthy of the Guardian Sports Group. “Andrew was excited as anyone I’ve ever seen to make his UFC debut. But I know he’ll be back soon and he’ll make a major impact when he is.”

Due to the late time and the distant location, there will be no replacement fight. Tumenov will however weigh in, to make his show money. UFC 188 will proceed with 11 matches.

While the use of PEDs has received widespread attention, weight cutting in MMA has caused a succession of injuries and a death, and is not receiving adequate attention.

An exception is Andy Foster, executive director of the California State Athletic Commission. The current regulator and former fighter, coach, judge, promoter, and fan has identified weight cutting as biggest danger in MMA. Foster is taking a series of steps to address the issue, including education.

Foster worked with the Association of Ringside Physicians (ARP) to draft a memo on the dangers of extreme weight cutting, which is gaining momentum in the MMA space.

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.

It is the responsibility of every fighter, trainer, and official in the sport to familiarize themselves with this.