Like it or not, weight-cutting is deeply rooted in mixed martial arts. MMA adopted its weight-cutting from the sport of wrestling, where it is presumed to be very advantageous to be the biggest and strongest in your weight class. Known as the ‘fight before the fight,’ most UFC fighters cut anywhere from 5-25 pounds, with some fighters even in excess of 30 pounds.
Weight-cutting is the ultimate test of discipline and willpower. Many fighters in the sport consider it very unprofessional to miss weight. In this series, we will shine a light on fighters who cut a massive amount of weight, who have missed weight multiple times in the past, who have made weight-class changes, along with how the weight-cut and weigh-in could affect possible upcoming match-ups. Basically, every aspect of weight-cutting and how it affects the fight game.
Amanda “The Lioness” Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC)
Bantamweight (135lbs): 11-1 (UFC) UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion
Featherweight (145lbs): 1-0 (UFC) UFC Women’s Featherweight Champion
At UFC 250 Amanda Nunes is looking to accomplish a feat that has never been accomplished before in the history of the UFC. The Brazillian double champion is looking to defend her featherweight belt, which would make her the first-ever UFC double champion to defend both titles.
Nunes is 5’7″ tall and at 32 years old also possess a 69″ reach. Nunes is a large woman that carries a lot of muscle, a little bit of body fat and always mentions her weight cut even if it’s for featherweight.
Amanda Nunes has had just one fight in the UFC at the featherweight weight class. It was arguably one of the single most impressive title fights in UFC history. In Amanda’s lone featherweight bout she destroyed the seemingly unbeatable Cris Cyborg inside of a single round. Nunes is without a doubt one of the most accomplished UFC fighters ever and she has defeated every woman that has ever held the belt in the UFC at the featherweight and bantamweight weight classes.
