On the latest episode of the UFC Unfiltered podcast, UFC President Dana White announced that he plans to work with athletic commissions to end the practice of early weigh-ins. In his eyes, this practice is a major driver in the recent trend of fighters missing weight.
“Yes, I do think it’s [the early weigh-ins that are causing failed weight cuts], and guess what? We’re getting rid of it,” White said on the show. “We’re looking at taking the weigh-ins back to the way they used to be. So when the guys weigh in there, at the [evening weigh-ins], that will be it.”
“Here’s what I believe,” White continued. “Every time you change something, everybody looks to take as much advantage as they can of the situation. I think that when we started doing morning weigh-ins, it was very good. Everybody was making weight. But then people started cutting it closer and closer and closer, thinking they can [cut] more weight because they have more time to recover, and the reality is, it fucked everything up. So we’re to going back to — at 4:00, when we do the [evening] weigh-ins, those will be the real weigh-ins.”
It did not take long for UFC fighters to start expressing their disappointment with White’s comments.
One of the most high-profile fighters to do so was former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. The former champ shared his gripes on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/Ealvarezfight/status/1004036129643991041
Proper weight cuts start months in advance not the week of the fight , We sign contacts wayyyy in advance and are told the requirements . If You miss Its Your Fucking Fault !!!!!!!
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Not the structure, not the hot tubs , not the suanas, not the meal prep guys , not the UFC , not the plane ride . If You miss weight it's All Your Fualt . Why are we blaming the system ??????? Please help me here guys
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
Please bossman @danawhite don't get rid of the early Weigh inns. it won't solve a thing . Your punishing the fighters who are accountable and responsible. #dontdoit
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) June 5, 2018
“Early weigh-ins were the best thing to happen to this sport,” Alvarez said in the first of several Tweets on the topic (edited for clarity). “You are either accountable or not. Missing weight has nothing to do with the structure, it has to do with the individual.”
“Proper weight cuts start months in advance, not the week of the fight,” Alvarez continued in a second Tweet. “We sign contracts way in advance and are told the requirements. If you miss, it’s your fucking fault.”
“Not the structure, not the hot tubs, not the saunas, not the meal prep guys, not the UFC, not the plane ride. If you miss weight, it’s all your fault. Why are we blaming the system? Please help me here guys.”
“Please Boss-man [Dana White], don’t get rid of the early weigh-ins. It won’t solve a thing. You’re punishing the fighters who are accountable and responsible.”
What do you think of Eddie Alvarez’s take on Dana White’s plan to reform weight-cutting in MMA?
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/5/2018.