Hooray for NYSAC: Fighters who miss weight face suspension, starting with Alves

Missing weight is not simply an unprofessional failure to fulfill a legally binding contract, it is also stealing. The opponent who does make weight is robbed of the chance at show money and the chance to push his or her career forward after weeks or months of hard training.

Despite being sent home by the UFC without win or show money, some fighters fail to make weight again and again.

UFC welterweight Kelvin Gastelum missed weight vs Nico Musoke at UFC Fight Nigh 44 on June 28, 2014. Then he missed weight vs. Tyron Woodley Decision at UFC 183 on January 31, 2015. Then at UFC 205, he missed weight so badly he didn’t bother to weigh in at all.

The New York State Athletic Commission had enough and suspended him for six months. However, Gastelum was not the only fighter to miss weight at the event.

Thiago Alves disgracefully missed weight by 6.6 pounds. The NYSAC allowed the fight with Jim Miller will go on, but Miller had to put on weight, so he was within five pounds of Alves at the official weigh-in. Further, Alves couldn’t weigh more than 173 by fight time for the 163 catchweight contest. Alves also forfeited 20% of his purse.

Alves lost a decision, but even that was not the end of it. The NYSAC also suspended him for three months for missing weight.

Per source, Thiago Alves was also suspended three months for missing weight by NYSAC. If you miss weight in NY, it's automatic suspension.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 22, 2016

This is excellent news for the sport, and will hopefully be copied by other commissions across North America, and eventually become the norm. A large number of steps are being taken to combat the extreme culture of weight cutting in mixed martial arts, and this is an excellent addition.