http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Report-Fighter-Dies-Moments-Before-Shooto-Brazil-43-Weighin-56873 Leandro Souza, age 28, of Nova Uniao died while cutting weight for Shooto Brazil 43. He got sick in a sauna and was taken to hospital. Many fighters cut weight before they fight, but it's a double-edged sword that can swing in a myriad of ways. You might make weight, but then you rehydrate and possibly weigh much more than your opponent like Arturo Gatti did against Joey Gamache. Gamache was ruined by that fight, horribly knocked out by a guy who weighed 20lbs more than him. Some fighters barely make weight and are weakened, possibly suffering health issues. They might lose a fight, or they might lose much more. Do people think that perhaps a fighter's weight should be regulated year-round? Could it be? I could see that getting abused as well with fighters struggling to get to mid-year acceptable weight limits. What do people think could be done to make it safer for participants?
The official cause of death was a stroke. I don't know if they can say with certainty that the weight cut had anything to do with it. TFK
I've read that dehydration can lead to blood clots---the blood clot caused the stroke. They might list the dehydration as a contributing factor. I guess the bigger issue it brings to mind is the risks that athletes take in order to gain a competitive advantage.
Same day weigh ins wouldn't fix it. Could possibly make it worse. Guys will always do anything possible to get that edge. You'd have more guys entering the cage either dehydrated or not properly rehydrated. There's no easy fix. All you can hope for is that more guys flock to top flight trainers like dolce, Lockhart and jimmy smith.
In the short term I don't think it would get any better, but there would be less fighters playing the weight cut game as their performance would be hindered a lot with the shorter window.
Maybe you're right but I think it's too risky to chance it. Some meat head ass hole is going to try to cut 10lbs 2 hours before he fights and he won't properly rehydrate...and he'll die. Weight cutting has been made safer these last few years and guys are finding healthier ways to get it done. The focus needs to go into educating them on the proper way to do it and the proper way to rehydrate.
I tend to agree with Fourhooks. You'd still get guys draining like crazy, but unable to even rehydrate as well as they can now.
There will be less meat head assholes fighting at weights they don't belong if it happens. Even if it is "safer" it shouldn't happen.
It shouldn't. But it will. Even with same day weigh ins. Just the way it will always be...unless they start some futuristic hydration testing during the weigh ins. 185lb weight limit while maintaining 50% water weight or some shit.
Maybe/probably. It would be nice if people simply fought people their own size. Same day weigh-ins would be a huge kick in the ass even for modern "nutrition". Official vs unofficial weights should not take any fighter up two whole divisions.
It's crazy the amount of weight these guys cut, especially the small guys. Just heard Urijah Faber talking about cutting 21 lbs down to 135. That's a huge percentage of body weight. For a fat turd like me, 21 would go like nothing...but 21 to a guy walking around at 8% bodyfat...that's a major hit.
It is, but doesn't change the fact a guy shouldn't be fighting at that weight class if that kind of cut is being done. The ONLY reason is to gain an advantage.
Agree....but you can't stop it. We clearly disagree on the impact of same day cuts. Aside from testing hydration levels and setting a "safe minimum", there isn't anything that can be done
Of course I can't stop it. People will always be looking to get an edge. If there is a time when weight classes or no longer required it's a different discussion. Simply put a lightweight shouldn't be fighting light-middle regardless of how much "safely" they cut the weight. How safe is it for their opponent?
It's become such a huge part of the game now. You see guys like mike dolce getting more famous than actual trainers because of the competitive edge he can give to some guys. It's like the cut is as important as wrestling or bjj
I blame the movie Vision Quest That movie made weight cutting sexy. After that movie I associated deadly weight cuts with Madonna, Red Rider, and banging hot older chicks
