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.
Ryan “Baby Face” Benoit (10-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC)
Flyweight (125lbs): 3-3 (UFC), Missed weight one time
Bantamweight (135lbs): 0-1 (UFC)
Benoit missed weight for his fight against Ashkan Mokhatarian in 2017. Benoit might have been able to finish his opponent in the third round with a spectacular head kick, but weighing in at 129lbs really put a damper on things. And missing weight probably kept him out of the fight performance bonus conversation for that night. Ryan is 5’5, has a 68.5″ reach and is now 30 years old.
After that fight, fans didn’t see Benoit in the octagon for over two years, before he returned last December, but this time at 135lbs. Unfortunately for Ryan, he lost a split decision to Heili Alateng in his debut at bantamweight. But Benoit will look to will look to get back in the win column at flyweight, and now in the co-main event slot, on July 15th.
