The word salad aside, this is a very ill-informed take. The IOA is right, the athlete is responsible for the weight cut. That is just the mechanics of it. A Soviet-style government appointment doctor can do precious little. A thread 🧵
1/10 🥊 Weight cutting in combat sports is brutal. Fighters push their bodies to the limit to make weight, to gain the barest of advantages (since the opponents are also following the same tactics), often facing severe consequences. But how do they do it? Let’s break down the process—and see why even the toughest fighters struggle. 👇 #CombatSports #WeightCutting
2/10 💧 Hydration Manipulation: Fighters start by drinking up to 7.5 liters of water per day, forcing their bodies into "flushing mode." By weigh-in day, they’ve cut down to just 500ml, or nothing at all. This leads to rapid weight loss through excessive urination. #MMA
4/10 🥚 Calorie Deficit & Carb Restriction: Fighters limit carbs to around 50 grams per day, depleting muscle glycogen and dropping weight. It’s effective, but leaves them weak and depleted—just as they’re preparing for a fight. #Nutrition #WeightCutting
6/10 đź’Š Diuretics: Some fighters use diuretics to shed the last bit of weight quickly. But the catch is that diuretics are banned by WADA because they can mask the presence of other banned substances. Using them puts athletes at risk of disqualification, unless if they are outside the purview of WADA testing. #WADA #Diuretics
7/10 ⚖️ Missed Weight in 2024: This year alone, several UFC fighters like Chelsea Chandler, Damon Jackson, and Liz Carmouche missed weight. These fighters struggled to hit their marks, sometimes by just a few grams, showing just how tough and dangerous the process is. There is no conspiracy here. #MMA
8/10 🔥 Khabib’s Struggle: Even the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov faced severe challenges with weight cutting. Before UFC 209, Khabib was hospitalized after his body couldn’t handle the extreme dehydration, nearly costing him his career. His story is a stark reminder of the risks. #Khabib #MMA
9/10 Vinesh in particular, had moved down from her previous 53kg category to the 50kg category. Given that her walking weight is roughly 57kg, she would have had to remain close to 50kg most of the time, which I am sure made it a really uphill task.
10/10 Combat athletes know the risks. It mostly pays off, given that there is an actual protocol for such rapid weight loss. Occasionally they miss out despite all the medical support around them. It's still on them, and there is no 'weight cut by committee'.
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