08/06/2025
🥊Fighters often push their bodies to the limit to make weight...but is it worth the risk?
📰Yesterday’s local boxing event caused a buzz after reports that a fighter gained 8kg between weigh-in and fight time, within just 24 hours.
❗Before writing my comments as a sports dietitian, I want to be clear that I have no information on the specific methods that this particular athlete used; however I can explain how this kind of rapid weight fluctuation can happen in combat sports, and why large weight fluctuations can be dangerous.
⚖Fighters often use rapid weight-cutting strategies before weigh-in, such as:
• Dehydration through sauna, hot baths, or fluid restriction
• Carb and sodium depletion to reduce water weight
• In some cases, diuretics- which are banned unless medically justified
🍞After weigh-in, aggressive rehydration with fluids, electrolytes, carbohydrates, and sometimes intravenous fluids (drip) is carried out, resulting in rapid weight regain.
☠The risks of excessive cuts are real:
• Dehydration increases concussion risk and impairs brain function
• Electrolyte imbalances can cause heart problems
• Kidney damage, cramping, fatigue, and digestive issues
• Slower reactions and poorer performance
• And in tragic cases, death
Real examples:
❌ Yang Jian Bing (ONE Championship, 2015): died from heart failure during weight cut
❌ Jessica Lindsay (Australia, 2017): collapsed while making weight
❌ Leandro Souza (Brazilian MMA, 2013): died while using diuretics
👍Why rehydration clauses matter
Some sports contracts include rehydration clauses that limit how much weight a fighter can regain after weigh-in, designed to protect health and ensure fair competition.
📏 What’s a safe weight cut?
• Rapid cuts just before weigh-in should ideally be limited to 3–5% of body weight
• Cutting more than 5% rapidly greatly increases risks of dehydration, impaired performance, and health complications
✅I’m not speculating about yesterday’s fight. But weight cutting beyond 5% of body weight is high risk. Respecting rehydration clauses, following safe protocols, and working with a qualified sports dietitian is critical, not just for performance, but to protect fighters’ lives.
