Kevin Lee’s first attempt at making weight Friday morning did not go according to plan. At the UFC 216 weigh-ins in Las Vegas, the lightweight, competing for an interim title against Tony Ferguson Saturday, was a pound over the 155lb title fight limit for the weight class. However, after being seen by a doctor, Nevada Athletic Commission officials ruled Lee would get another hour to shed the final pound.
The extra hour was a surprise to many, as since the implementation of early weigh-ins, the extra hour seemed to be a thing of the past. However, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Bob Bennett, the allowance has always been there — the UFC simply hasn’t used it thus far. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Bennet stated that “this is just standard.” He continued by saying that if the UFC “wants to implement and utilize a good business practice, quite frankly, that’s available to them. Then it’s their option. I think it was very fair and honorable and equitable for both fighters.”
With the extra hour to eliminate the extra pound, Lee (16–2) had no trouble making weight on his second attempt. The Michigan fighter hit the scales at 154.5 the second time around, a half pound under the limit. Lee had apparently 19lbs to go the day before the weigh-ins, a number that caused some trepidation among pundits and fans already concerned about the dangerous practice of shedding large amounts of weight in short periods.
Lee, however, has since taken to social media to say that he’s “willing to die” to make it to the title fight.
I'm willing to die bout this shit. I got a title to win tomorrow. Nobody gonna stop me. #25toLife
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 6, 2017
The problem is that a fighter dying during a weight cut is all too real of a possibility. While it has yet to happen in the UFC, ONE Championship’s Yang Jian Bing passed away due to cardiopulmonary failure in December 2015 as a result of his weight cut. The death of Bing led to extensive reforms to the promotion’s weight cutting rules and essentially changed how its weight classes operate.
A fighter dying during a weight cut is exactly what the UFC needs to avoid. While Lee made weight on his second try, fellow lightweight Nik Lentz took ill during his attempt to make the scale Friday, and was removed from the card. It’s the latest in a number of high profile weight mishaps in the UFC, and another indicator that the promotion is going to have to go above and beyond, as it did with USADA, to get the practice under control.
