The UFC’s return to London, which is headlined by a heavyweight tilt between Fabricio Werdum and Alexander Volkov, and co-headlined by a light heavyweight rematch between Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz, is now just days away.
With the card just around the corner, the many fighters on the bill are all getting their weight cuts underway, hitting the sauna and depriving themselves of any real quantities of food or water. Unfortunately, they’re also required to engage in a bevy of media obligations as they attempt the shed the remaining pounds required for their fights.
Unsurprisingly, the combination of extreme dehydration and repeated interviews is not especially enjoyable for fighters. Early on Thursday morning, England’s Jimi Manuwa shared his gripes with this unfortunate scheduling conflict. He’s wondering who it was that decided to schedule countless interviews for fighters in the midst of brutal and uncomfortable weight cuts.
Who’s great idea was it to have media day with 100 interviews on the day when all of the fighters are cutting weight and can’t eat or drink
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) March 15, 2018
“Who’s great idea was it to have media day with 100 interviews on the day when all of the fighters are cutting weight and can’t eat or drink?” Manuwa queried in a Tweet.
Really, that’s a fair question – and it addresses one of the many issues that stems from the practice of weight cutting.
Manuwa followed up with a few more references to the discomfort fighters feel during their weight cut.
Cutting weight @BLACKROSE_LP pic.twitter.com/C1mMCpmq9m
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) March 15, 2018
I don’t think anyone enjoys cutting weight.
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) March 15, 2018
Do you think the UFC should take more care when scheduling interviews for fighters in the midst of their weight cuts? Join the conversation in the comments section below.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/15/2018.