Matchmakers must take greater responsibility around weight cutting

Yoel Romero weighed in for Saturday’s UFC 225 main event naked behind a towel at 186, one pound over the middleweight championship cut off. He was given two additional hours to cut the final pound.

Yoel Romero misses. He’ll get two hours. pic.twitter.com/T7Tj8IkQFG

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) June 8, 2018

He eventually missed by .2 pound, and had to be supported as he stumbled away groaning in pain.

A visibly distraught @YoelRomeroMMA leaves #UFC225 official weigh-ins after missing by .2 pounds for his middleweight title fight.

Full results: https://t.co/ep3oYvcl0W pic.twitter.com/HM4kxtGjaC

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 8, 2018

It is profoundly irrational to, in the interest of safety, reduce an athlete to a groaning mess, unable to walk unaided, one day before that athlete ungoes some of the most strenuous activity ever devised.

And Romero failed to make weight for his last bout too, an interim title fight vs. Luke Rockhold at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia.

There is currently a debate over whether or not to end early weigh-ins. When Romero failed in Australia, there were no early weigh-ins. Now he has failed at the early weigh-ins. The problem is not early or late weigh-ins. The problem is with the fighter, and insufficient league management of athlete weight.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Romero was booked for a title fight by UFC matchmakers, missed weight, and next was booked again for a title fight by UFC matchmakers, and missed weight again.

Given the danger of the culture of extreme weight cutting in MMA, matchmakers should not book a fight unless they believe the fighter can make weight, and safely. A fighter is going to say yes to a title fight, every time, and then will worry about the damage an extreme cut causes.

California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster has crafted a 10-point plan to address the deadly problem.

1) Requesting MMA fighters to select the lowest weight class in which to compete, and asking questions about weight cutting and dehydration to take into consideration prior to approving fights. The listed division must be declared safe by a physician on a licensee’s paperwork.
2) A contestant who fails to make weight is fined 20 percent of his or her show money, with 10 percent going to the commission and 10 percent going to the opponent, in addition to a 20 fine of the contestant’s win bonus, with all of the money going to the opponent.
3) Four additional weight classes – 165, 175, 195 and 205 pounds – to give athletes more choice.
4) Policy changes to the way matches are approved with an emphasis on appropriate weight class.
5) Weight class restrictions for fighters who miss weight more than once. Those fighters may be required to compete in a higher weight class until a physician certifies it’s appropriate and the commission approves.
6) Continued early weigh-in procedure to allow fighters the maximum amount of time to rehydrate.
7) A second weight check on the day of the event to ensure fighters haven’t gained back more than 10 percent of their body weight. Fighters who gain excessive weight may be asked to move to a higher weight class.
8) Checks for dehydration by specific urine gravity and/or a physical by CSAC physicians.
9) A recommendation of a 30-day and 10-day weight check for high level title fights, similar to those done by the WBC in boxing matches.
10) Examination and education for matchmakers, promoters, trainers and athletes on offering, accepting and contracting bouts.

Review what this debacle would have been like under Foster’s plan:
1. A doctor would have had to have approved Romero’s failed cut. And the second failed cut.
3. Romero would in all likelihood be in the more appropriate 195 pound division.
4. UFC matchmakers would have shown more responsibility in booking the fight.
5. Romero would need to have an MD certify he can make 185, and the commission would approve, something they might or might not have done.
7. Romero would be weighed on Saturday to make sure he is not above 203.5. Yoel Romero will be above 203.5 tomorrow.
8. Romero would be checked for dehydration tomorrow.
9. The commission would have been checking Romero’s weight at 30 days and 10 days out, which is potentially huge in making sure the fighter’s cut is on target.
10. UFC matchmakers, Romero’s coach, and the fighter himself would have received obviously needed education around the issue.

This isn’t an accident. This was foreseeable. The fighter, UFC matchmakers, and the sport have to do better. Ideally before a prominent fighter dies.