What is weight cutting?
Weight cutting is a process that many MMA fighters go through in order to make their weight class limits. The process of weight cutting occurs over the course of several weeks and involves losing water weight from the body so that one can comfortably make their weight class.
Weight cutting is not something that should be done by yourself. It’s important to have a professional help you with this process, as it can be dangerous if not done properly.
Why do MMA fighters cut weight?
MMA fighters cut weight because it allows them to compete in a lower weight class than they would normally compete at if they weren’t cutting weight. This gives them an advantage over other fighters who can’t cut their own weight, as their size and strength should be superior compared to their opponent’s size and strength due to being able to fight at a heavier weight class than they usually would be able to do so otherwise.
In this blog, we’ll go over the most popular weight cutting methods for MMA fighters.
Strict diet
Cutting weight is a science. MMA fighters know that the right diet is key to making weight and performing at their best. With a little planning, you can ensure that your body is getting all the nutrients it needs while losing as much water weight as possible.
A good place to start is by choosing a low-calorie diet that consists of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Processed foods like potato chips should be avoided since they have added salt, sugar or preservatives which will increase bloating and retain water in your body (which makes cutting harder).
Be sure to eat small portions throughout the day instead of one big meal so you don’t feel hungry for several hours afterward which will result in binging later at night when everyone else has eaten dinner but still have plenty of time left until bedtime. Try not eating within an hour before going to bed because this causes an increase in metabolism which could lead back towards dehydration if there isn’t enough time for it to slow down again before waking up.
Weight cutting practices
- Cut out carbs. You should be eating a lot of protein and fat before your cut, but not a huge amount of carbs.
- Cut out alcohol. Alcohol is full of empty calories that don’t do much for you, so it’s best to avoid it during a weight-cut.
- Cut out salt. Whether you have a high-sodium diet or are trying to avoid getting cramps while cutting weight, the easiest way is to stop eating salt altogether (and eat more potassium instead).
- Stop eating late at night: Eat 5–6 meals per day and make sure each one includes protein and some vegetables or fruit and doesn’t contain too many carbs or fat—this will keep you feeling satisfied without gaining unnecessary weight during the cut!
Dehydration methods
The first step in cutting weight is to decrease your body’s water content. One way of doing this is by using a sauna or steam room, which can help you sweat out excess water weight. Another option is to wear sweat suits and/or hot and cold baths. These methods are effective because they cause the body to lose fluids through sweating and urination, respectively.
However, these methods don’t always work for every fighter—they may be too difficult for some people due to their health conditions or personal preferences. For example, someone with heart disease shouldn’t use a sauna or steam room because it could put them at risk of having a heart attack from dehydration; similarly, someone who doesn’t feel comfortable wearing heavy clothing while exercising might not be able to use sweat suits effectively either (although there are other types of garments besides sweat suits that can do the same thing). This is why some fighters turn instead toward laxatives like enemas or diuretics like steroids as well as dietary restrictions (such as cutting back on salt).
Weigh-ins
In MMA, fighters are divided into weight classes. Arguably the most popular, is the Heavyweight Division, which ranges from 205 to 265 pounds; there are other divisions as well ranging down to around 100 pounds.
During weigh-ins, which occur 24 hours before a fight and take place inside the official venue of the contest or on site at an approved weigh-in station set up by officials, each fighter must be weighed in front of medical personnel and in many cases, the overseeing commission. If they do not meet the weight limit for their division, they are sometimes given one final hour to make If they still cannot make it under that limit after this period has expired, they are disqualified or forfeit a portion of their purse to their opponent (more information on this later)
Rehydrate
It’s important to rehydrate your body after cutting weight. The best way to do this is by drinking water. Try to drink about a gallon of water for every pound you lost during the last 24 hours before the fight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and lose 5 pounds in 24 hours by sweating out excess water from your body (the so-called “water deficit”), then you would need to drink about 20 ounces of fluids per hour for the next three hours until weigh-in time.
After weighing in, it’s essential that you start replenishing your body with nutrients quickly. This will help provide energy during the fight and replenish any nutrients that were lost while sweating excessively or taking diuretics (medications which increase urination). A healthy meal consisting of carbohydrates and protein should be consumed at least two hours before fighting time so that it has enough time to digest completely by fight time. Avoid consuming food within one hour prior because digestion slows down as we get closer to our physical peak performance levels; therefore, eating too close may result in indigestion or stomach upset during competition!
As far as what kind of food works best after cutting weight goes—it all depends on personal preference! Some fighters prefer eating something light such as grilled chicken breast without sauce over rice with steamed vegetables (fruit is also acceptable but higher glycaemic index foods like these are preferred because they provide quicker energy). Others might choose something heavier like pasta dish made from whole wheat noodles topped off with tomato sauce instead – whatever works best for them!
MMA fighters have to know how to make weigh-ins!
When you hear the term “weight cutting” in MMA, it’s not just a simple matter of losing some weight. The process involves many steps and can be very dangerous if not done correctly. Failing to make weight for a fight is no laughing matter either—the consequences for missing your divisional limit can include fines and suspensions, or even being forced out of competition entirely.
It is important to understand that before you begin cutting weight, you should have already chosen your target division based on your height, reach, and overall build. (Which will determine which class you’ll fight in). This means that if someone cuts too much weight and then still doesn’t hit their divisional limit at weigh-ins, they may have no choice but to compete against fighters who are bigger than them! Promotions like the UFC will punish fighters who don’t make weight by giving 20% of their fight purse to their opponent.
Many factors contribute towards how much weight an individual fighter can safely shed to meet their designated divisional limit prior to weigh-ins: genetics/body type; hydration status/water retention; lifestyle habits such as sleep patterns and exercise routines; diet plan (low carb vs high protein); experience level with cutting methods like saunas or sweat suits etcetera.
Any questions? Fill out our form and one of our team members will be in touch.