Should we know what fighters weigh right before they step into the octagon?

Question

we all know fighters cut weight , anderson cuts from 220

same thing with franklin , franklin has said he walks in at 210

right before a fight , so when they take off their clothes

and get the vaselin put on, they should step on a scale?

Answer 1

i dont see the point of having weight classes at all if they all manipulate their weight in such ways.

Answer 2

Most fights the weighing in is more the state regulations then anything else.  Most fights are signed and contracts are made with weight requirements on both sides. I would much rather have the weigh in a day before so that the fighters can hydrate and put on a good fight.

Answer 3

Absolutely not. Cutting weight is difficult and taxing on the body. That gives you 24 hours to rehydrate and rest.

The weigh in's really are to establish some order and a somewhat level playing ground. In fact, fighters that miss weight still get to fight so long as their opponent agrees to the fight. Title fights however if the challenger misses weight the belt is no longer at stake.

You will never see the weigh in process change. Not to mention they're a whole seperate promo/marketing opportunity for the venue.

Answer 4

i dont think it matters, HBO shows the fighters weight at weight ins, and the weight right before they enter the ring, as long at the weight right before the match dose not matter i don't think it should matter if they weight in, i think its great that most mma organizations have weights ins at the beginning of the day or a day before so that fighters can rehydrate , i think that any regulations on how fighters cut weight would dramatically hurt fighters performance,

my last year of wrestling they added a new rule that regulated the weight u could lose, bc i weight in at 189 that day (after only 2 days of practice) then 2 weeks later when i naturally weight in at 175, i could not cut the last four pounds and go down a weight class, so i was wrestling in the 189 class with guys who cut down from +190 lbs down , so now i was stuck weighting in 175, wrestling 189, and usually giving up around 14 pounds per match

Answer 5

NO, i don't think it is anyone's right to know what they weigh before going into the octagon.  They all cut weight and if they make weight at the weigh in thats all that matters....They did their job by making weight!  Now bring on the fight...

Answer 6

I think there should be three or four weigh ins in the run up to the fight with one on the day of the fight so that they can't cut as much weight as they do, with maybe a 2% limit on how much they can go up.

Answer 7

I wouldn't mind having a scale just outside of the ring/cage to weigh them as they walk out, as long as this is for information purposes only i.e. they don't have to be at or near the contracted weight.  I totally oppose having the weigh in the day of the fight.  Fighters like Tito used to cut weight for a size advantage, now because everyone is cutting weight, fighters have to cut to avoid a size disadvantage.  Moving the actual weigh in closer to the fight wouldn't get people to stop cutting weight, it would just give them less time to recover, thus resulting in more fatigued fighters and more than likely deaths.  You also couldn't have the actual weigh in right before they fight, because what would you do if someone misses weight?  Send the fighters back to the dressing room?

To the person that asked why we have weight classes if people cut anyway, it's so there is a level playing field.  While GSP may come to the ring at 180 - 185, fighting at welter weight (170) his opponent should expect this and try to get as big as he can and still be able to make the required weight.  Weight classes prevent massive size disparities, Bob Sapp couldn't make 170 if his life depended on it.

Answer 8

I agree with the person who said if we use it ONLY for informational purposes it would be interesting. However, with the amount of weight that fighters generally cut leading up to weigh ins it would be detremental to both the fighter and viewer if they had to remain that weight up to the fight. It would lead to more injuries due to fatigue, and slower more boring fights. It would be interesting to know what they actually do weigh during the fight though.