Unless you've ever been a part of a pre-fight weight cut, it's difficult to understand just how terrible the process can be for mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters who either A) don't prepare well enough in advance or B) try to cut down to a division that is clearly beyond their reach.
Sometimes said fighters end up missing weight. Other times they're rushed to the hospital.
As Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues to expand and stage more events, it may just be a matter of time before someone tries a little too hard before getting to the scale, and ends up leaving the weigh ins with more than just a 20-percent fine.
But California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) wants to overhaul the controversial process -- which now operates without the benefit of IV hydration -- at its upcoming dehydration and weight-cutting summit in Los Angeles, Calif., on Dec. 17, 2015.
Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) president Mike Mazzulli talks to MMA Fighting:
"It's a major concern of ours. What we need to do is make sure we look out for the fighters. This is just one way we're going to try to do that. We want to address the issues before we get to the point where somebody dies. I think it's long overdue to have the discussion in terms of what we can do. We all need to come up with something that's in the best interest and safety of the fighters."
Representatives from UFC, Bellator, WSOF, and Invicta FC are expected to attend.
Weight cutting was back in the news earlier this month when former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks was hospitalized after his body "shut down" while cutting weight. "Bigg Rigg" had a laundry list of excuses, but that didn't make it any less dangerous.
With that in mind, do any fans in our audience have a solution to the weight-cutting problem?