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.
Justine Kish (7-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Strawweight (115lbs): 2-1 (UFC), Missed weight one time in the UFC
Flyweight (125lbs): 1-1 (UFC)
Justine Kish got her start in the UFC back in January of 2016 when she beat Nina Ansaroff by unanimous decision in the UFC’s women’s strawweight division.
In her sophomore bout at the end of the year, Kish missed weight for her fight against Ashley Yoder, weighing in at 116.4lbs. Kish would go on to win the fight, but in her next bout against Felice Herrig, she would finally lose her perfect record.
The weight miss, compounded with the loss, compelled Kish to move up to the women’s flyweight division where she dropped a very close split decision in her debut match at 125lbs. to Ji Yeon Kim. However, back in January, Kish finally got back in the win column with a unanimous decision win over Lucie Pudilova.
She faces Sabina Mazo at UFC Vegas 10.
