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[iverbure]

With the UFC clearly being where most of the best fighters are in the world, the 5 weight classes are full of top 10 fighters and fighters who are usually the biggest the divisions has to offer. My question / complaint is why do fighters come to the ufc and compete at their natural weight class when the odds / history suggests they will likely fail unless they get lucky or perhaps they are feed a couple of lowered ranked fighters?

For the most part the pride fighters come to the ufc and are always the smaller fighter in most their fights. Cro Cop was probably the smallest heavyweight. Other than Vera. Shogun and Wand could both likely make 185. I am not saying these fighters can't win in the weight divisions they are in, they will just always be at a strength disadvantage. imo i agree with the Joe Rogan, if you can cut you should. I have never cut weight so i don't know how it feels to do so, however there is just about everyone cuts at least 10 to 15 pounds to make the weight in the ufc.

IMO you should never be fighting in the ufc at a higher weight unless, you are a natural 145 fighter and have nothing else to fight for at that weight. Faber might come into this probelm in a little while. You have a obvisous fight at a weight above you, that will be a big payday for you. Matt Serra comes to mind, with Hughes fight. Another way someone should be fighting higher division is if a guy like Anderson Silva dominates for so long that there is no longer anyone else for him to fight and he decides to move up to try and fight against other top fighters in a higher division.

So what is your stance on fighters coming to the ufc and fighting at their walking weight rather than a weight they could cut to, to make?

[jlruthven84]

If a fighter is succeeding at a certain weight class, I say good for them. Fedor and Cro Cop are two of the smaller HWs out there, and they ran roughshod over most of PRIDE's HW division for years.

Vera could obviously cut to LHW, and Wandy and Shogun can make 185, which they may decide to do if they each lose their next fights.

Honestly, it depends on the fighter: how their body handles the cut, their specific talent set, and how strong or weak a given division may be.

[iverbure]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

If a fighter is succeeding at a certain weight class, I say good for them. Fedor and Cro Cop are two of the smaller HWs out there, and they ran roughshod over most of PRIDE's HW division for years.

Vera could obviously cut to LHW, and Wandy and Shogun can make 185, which they may decide to do if they each lose their next fights.

Honestly, it depends on the fighter: how their body handles the cut, their specific talent set, and how strong or weak a given division may be.

let me first say that i know there has been plenty of topics on this however, there hasn't been one for quite some time and plently more fights and plenty of guys moved down in weight classes.

Cro Cop clearly was pushed around by Kongo in there fight, and fights against the bigger guys like Sylvia probably would have resulted in the same results.

I don't want to discount Fedor but i believe with being smaller heavyweight ands the rule changes he would have lost to someone in the UFC within his first 3 fights. (Randy - Timmy - AA)

Wand will soon find out against Jardine, that these big americans are all too powerful and he will need to drop weight in order to compete and return to form.

Shogun will also find that out against Liddell imo.

The only division currently i think a guy can do better without cutting is, at MW but thats if they just want to be in the top 10 and not ever get a shot at the title, because Frankling and Silva and Henderson will beat you.

[hunterkiller]

In my opinion, if you have to cut more than 10-15 pounds, you don't belong in that division. It creates distinct disadvantages to the guys who can't make the other weights. But it's not agains the rules so to each his own.

[Dimson]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

In my opinion, if you have to cut more than 10-15 pounds, you don't belong in that division. It creates distinct disadvantages to the guys who can't make the other weights. But it's not agains the rules so to each his own.

That is the purpose for cutting weight. To get an advantage. Why else would you put yourself through that?

[DaTruThHurTs]

I understand that mostly cuts wieght to gain an advantage for their specific weight class' but at the same time you have to remember that cutting weight takes away endurance quite a bit (unless you are use to it) I'm sure they do a "test run" but at the same time it is very hard to simulate the fast paced action that your body goes through in a fight. Also you have to take into consideration the adreneline dump in the beginning of the fight.

IMO I think that IF i'm a fighter, and I weight in the 225-235 lbs range, I would see how I fair in the HW division knowing that I could ake LHW if needed. Think about it....the HW div is either the weakest or almost the weakest (esp w/ rc,aa,ts leaving) and other than genetic freaks (brock lesnar, Kongo) you would be faster and have better conditioning, Like Vera, now don't get me wrong I might be bias but in the sylvia fight its not like he got dominated or straight pwnd. He broke his hand in the 1st and then proceded to get dry humped for the remainder of the fight.....He did eat some shot from timmah but didn't get dropped which showed his chin.

[hunterkiller]

Originally Posted by Dimson

That is the purpose for cutting weight. To get an advantage. Why else would you put yourself through that?

I don't disagree with cutting weight to make weight. I just disagree with cutting an extreme amount of weight to make weight so you can be unnaturally larger than another guy. This may strike a nerve with you but I disagree with Cory Hill fighting at Lightweight. There's no way in the world that guy should be a lightweight. In my opinion, there should be parameters set at how much weight you can "cut" to make weight. It's just my opinion and it will never happen, but it's just that, an opinion.

[LadyJag]

I personally dont think any fighter comes into any organization and is fighting at their natural weight unless your a heavy weight? MOST fighters may look big for their division but i assure you they still cut weight.

BUT if what you say is right and fighters are just competing at their "walking around weight" and are WINNING all the power too them. Training and what not is hard... and so are the nerves of the fight... BUT cutting the weight probably takes the most out of you when it comes to a fight. Not only do you have to watch how you cut and make sure its the right way, but you also have to rehydrate yourself properly and have a successful recovery plan after.

SOMETIMES fighters dont perform wellb ecuase they cut weight the wrong way, or didn't hydrate properly not to mention depending where their from the altitude of vegas doesn't help.


Its highly unlikey fighters come into these fights withough cutting weight but meh i guess you never know...

You used serra as an example.. i think serra is a good welterweight BUT i think he would be an incredible light weight and he will be strong in that division...

[Qball1974]

I never liked cutting weight, they sould weight the fighters the day of the fight(couple hrs before.).. THATS YOUR REAL WEIGHT!

[VimyRidge]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

In my opinion, if you have to cut more than 10-15 pounds, you don't belong in that division. It creates distinct disadvantages to the guys who can't make the other weights. But it's not agains the rules so to each his own.

I have to agree with thecoylewis. They should weigh the fighter both the day before and also right before the fight.
I am a huge Silva and GSP fan, but the main reason they are so dominant is that they seem to be better able to cut weight. Silva is the best 213 pounder (not sure what weight he fights) who can cut down to 185. Tito use to be dominant at 205 a few years ago because every other 205 fighter was much smaller.

We might get better matches if guys won because of better skill rather than size difference.