Abstract
The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), currently in its 32nd year, is highly responsible for the exponential growth and international interest in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA includes groups of contact activities. MMA athletes can kick, throw, punch, elbow, or grapple with their opponent. To gain a perceived advantage, MMA athletes undergo weight cuts/longitudinal weight descents (LDW), to compete in lower weight classes. The weight cut frequently occurs during the “Fight Camp” phase, which may last from 8-12 weeks. The week before a match is termed “Fight Week,” which consists of rapid weight loss (RWL) and acute water loss (AWL) strategies. After weigh-in, MMA athletes commence rapid weight-regain strategies within a 24–36-hour window from weigh-in until the match. To date, limited data exists determining if current weight cutting practices reduce an MMA athlete’s performance and increase their injury risk, particularly Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Nevertheless, there is research which asserts that an MMA athletes’ skill, and physical and mental performance can be preserved when the weight cut/(LDW) phase, and the rapid weight loss and acute water loss phases, are applied effectively and within given parameters (Ricci et al. 2025). Moreover, negative side effects of weight cutting may be minimized if the MMA athlete is properly rehydrated and refueled during the rapid weight regain phase. The intent of this presentation is to discuss evidenced based practices and elucidate the parameters which best preserve optimal performance and mitigate injury risk to an MMA athletes’ body and brain during and after weight cutting.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Anthony A. Ricci
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-2-2025 2:15 PM
End Date
4-3-2025 12:00 AM
Effective Weight Cutting and Post Weigh-in Recovery Strategies in Professional MMA
Alvin Sherman Library
The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), currently in its 32nd year, is highly responsible for the exponential growth and international interest in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA includes groups of contact activities. MMA athletes can kick, throw, punch, elbow, or grapple with their opponent. To gain a perceived advantage, MMA athletes undergo weight cuts/longitudinal weight descents (LDW), to compete in lower weight classes. The weight cut frequently occurs during the “Fight Camp” phase, which may last from 8-12 weeks. The week before a match is termed “Fight Week,” which consists of rapid weight loss (RWL) and acute water loss (AWL) strategies. After weigh-in, MMA athletes commence rapid weight-regain strategies within a 24–36-hour window from weigh-in until the match. To date, limited data exists determining if current weight cutting practices reduce an MMA athlete’s performance and increase their injury risk, particularly Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Nevertheless, there is research which asserts that an MMA athletes’ skill, and physical and mental performance can be preserved when the weight cut/(LDW) phase, and the rapid weight loss and acute water loss phases, are applied effectively and within given parameters (Ricci et al. 2025). Moreover, negative side effects of weight cutting may be minimized if the MMA athlete is properly rehydrated and refueled during the rapid weight regain phase. The intent of this presentation is to discuss evidenced based practices and elucidate the parameters which best preserve optimal performance and mitigate injury risk to an MMA athletes’ body and brain during and after weight cutting.
