Novitzky comments on 10-point plan to combat extreme weight cutting

Very few mainstream print journalists understand mixed martial arts, but chief investigative reporter for The Boston Herald Jack Encarnacao is a sterling exception. In his latest MMA Notes, Encarnacao examines California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster’s 10-point plan to address the deadly culture of extreme weight cutting in mixed martial arts:
1. Licensing by Weight Class.
2. Changes to the bout agreement to obtain parity with boxing.
3. Additional weight classes. 165, 175, 195, 225.
4. Implement 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.
6. Continue early weigh-ins.
7. A second weight check the day of the event to ensure fighters have not gained more than 8% of their body weight back.
8. Checks for Dehydration by specific gravity and/or physical by Ringside Physicians at both the official weigh in and the second day weight check.
9. Implement a 30-day and 10-day weight check for advertised high level title fights.
10. Matchmaker and Promoter Examination and Education regarding weight cutting and dehydration.

Foster spoke with Encarnacao about some of the key changes that will be brought before the Association of Boxing Commissions at the annual convention in July at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Everybody should recognize that there’s a problem here, and it’s as prevalent as any problem in any sport has ever been, said Foster, a former MMA fighter. We really consider this a life or death issue in a lot of cases.

Fighters missing weight have gone up since Foster’s early weigh-ins were adopted nationwide, but the CSAC boss says that make sense.

You’ve had more people missing weight, I think that’s indicative of the fact that they’re not in their [correct] weight class, said Foster. It brought them out of the shadows. It showed who they were.

Foster studied actual fight weights, and 31% of the fighters had gained more than 10% of their bodyweight back between weigh-ins and fight time.

If you’re in the right weight class, you shouldn’t have gained back more than 10 percent of your body weight overnight, said Foster. If we have 31 percent of any licensing population engaging in what our doctors consider to be unsafe activity, that’s a problem.

Fighter’s will have to declare a minimum weight, and will need clearance from their physician to go lower.

If somebody’s lowest weight class is certified at 155, I don’t want to see them going to 145, said Foster. There’s always an out. You can go get medical supervision, and if a doctor writes you a note [saying] this is OK for you to do, then certainly we’re not going to argue with doctors.

Foster’s plan also adds new weight classes at 165, 175, 195 and 225 pounds. The CSAC initially proposed eliminating the longstanding 170-pound class, but dropped that after conferring with the UFC and other promoters.

UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky, who worked closely with Foster in developing the 10-point plan, said the UFC is in favor of more weight class choices for athletes.

Asked if the company will add the new classes if the policy takes effect, Novitzky said, The organization is always evaluating its talent pool, and the recent addition of UFC’s 145-pound women’s division is a perfect example of our willingness to address additional weight classes if the talent merits it.