UFC 199 Showcases New Weigh-In System

(FOX)

We’ve seen it all at fight weigh-ins. From missed weight to severe dehydration and the popular skeletor-looking fighters, all in efforts to meet the weight requirements for their fight the following day.

Back in February the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) passed new regulations to control, and improve, the weight cutting process. After multiple fighters in the mixed martial arts community have experienced severe health issues from the drastic weight cuts, some even resulting in death, the CSAC became the first commission to attempt to be more hands on with the fight requirement.

This weekend’s UFC 199, taking place in Los Angeles, will be the first UFC event under the new guidelines. The biggest change being the weigh in’s themselves. While fight fans will be able to attend the public event and watch it on Fox Sports 1, the fighters will have already been weighed in earlier Friday, if they so choose.

For the first time, the official scales will open up at 10 a.m. on Friday morning. Fighters will have the opportunity to reach weight till 2 p.m. and start the rehydration process earlier. Should the fighter decide to stick to the traditional 4 p.m. weigh in, they are allowed. In addition to the earlier time, doctors will also be in attendance on Friday and fight day, Saturday, to monitor the dehydration levels of the fighters.

UFC Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, and main event for Saturday’s UFC 199, told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour Monday how he felt about the earlier weigh in time. “I’m excited about the weigh-in early. I think it’s stupid to sit there and deprive yourself and wait for all this bullsh*t to go through and stay dehydrated and let your body keep sucking fluid from your brain.”

Don’t worry fight fans. Weigh in’s will still run the same way on Friday afternoon (4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST on Fox Sports 1). Fighters will get weighed on the scale and face off with their opponents after, but this time Joe Rogan will say the weight recorder earlier that day, not the weight on the scale. Minor difference for the sake of a healthier, more hydrated performance for the highly anticipated fight card.

While other commissions have begun to adapt the CSAC’s new regulation, the UFC itself will consider altering their weigh in procedure following this weekend’s event, according to MMAFighting.com.

After CSAC announced their new policy earlier this year, we began seeing fighters move up in weight classes, leading to stronger, healthier looking competitors. While it may have been for other reasons, many speculated it was due to the drastic weight cuts.

Is there a negative to this change? We’ll have to see following this weekend’s first-go at the new system.

UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Bisping 2 starts off this Saturday at 6:15pm EST on UFC Fight Pass followed by the UFC 199 Prelims on Fox Sports 1 at 8pm EST and the UFC 199 Main Card on Pay-Per-View starting at 10 p.m.