ONE Championship is a Kickboxing/MMA promotion based in Asia and has recently been commended by the MMA community for the relatively new weight-cutting system it has implemented. It goes like this: 1. WEIGHT CLASS ADJUSTMENT Every single weight class changed to the next but kept its name and fighters/champions. An example in boxing would be Welterweight being 154, Middleweight being 168, Lightweight being 140, etc. and all the fighters and champions would remain at that weight class. Errol Spence would be the Welterweight(154) champion, Josh Taylor would be the Light welterweight(147) champion, etc. This is so that fighters are fighting at their walking around weight and cut hardly any weight at all. This is a lot healthier for the fighter and nobody would be fighting drained. 2. DEHYDRATION RULES ONE flat out refuses to let fighters who are even slightly dehydrated fight if they seem to be dehydrated on fight night. A fighter CAN NOT cut any water weight. ONE uses an instrument to test a fighter's urine for solutes, a high count = dehydration = no fight. The fighter is also tested multiple times for weight and hydration during fight week and failure to achieve adequate levels of either results in additional fight night testing. If a fighter is properly hydrated and still misses by a few pounds, ONE negotiates a catchweight and the fight goes forward as long as the other fighter and I quote is "105 percent of their opponent's weight." This is put in place to avoid a fighter from gaining an excessive amount of weight the day of the fight and essentially removes weight bullying overnight. Nobody would have a massive weight advantage over another fighter come fight night unless the fight was at Heavyweight. I am on board and believe that every single combat sport with weight classes should adopt this system and ASAP. As a result, this would also do away with silly things like rehydration clauses, as there would be no substantial weight gain the day of the fight. On top of all the advantages, the main one that resonates with me is that every single boxing fight from here on out, would be a lot fairer, and fair competition is what every real boxing fan should want and expect. What does everyone else think about it? Video on the topic from a former ONE Championship champion: This content is protected
As everything it s good in theory. ONE ‘s weight rules has come ubder scrutinty as fighters have called it the promotion without weight classes as no one knows what exactly their rules are and how or if they are used. There is nothing to show us ONE actually does implement these rules. As corrupt as boxing is the wise guys will always find a way.
I think the dehydration test sounds nice, but wouldn't it be ridiculously easy to cheat it? Just add some tap water to your urine sample?
One fighter died because of the stock weight cutting system every MMA organization has. They implemented this new one because of the fighter's death.
Nope. They monitor you even when you go to the restroom and literally watch you pee as Ben Askren said. They monitor all your behavior to make sure you're 100% hydrated.
Why changing the divisions? Why not just moving up a weight class? If you struggle to make 147 then move up to 154. If you struggle to make 126 then move up to 130 or 135. There are too many fighters out there who are trying to make a weight class despite being too big and thick for that weight class - only because they have a size advantage there. THATs the mistake. IMO the best rule would be: If you miss weight once you're forced to move up for the next fight. If you miss weight twice you're never allowed to fight in the weight class again.
He literally fought at the first event that implemented the new weight-cutting system. ONE 54: Dynasty of Heroes.
