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.
Fabio “Water Buffalo” Cherant (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Light Heavyweight (205lbs): 7-1 (MMA), Missed weight 2x
Fabio Cherant is extremely young in his pro MMA career having made is debut in 2018. Fabio, as he looks, is an extremely powerful and explosive fighter but he does struggle with making 205lbs even though he fought at middleweight multiple times as an amateur.
Fabio competed on the 2019 season of the Contender Series against Aleksa Camur but lost the bout and was unsuccessful in securing a UFC contract.
Cherant missed weight for his July 2020 bout in the LFA, coming in at a whopping 213.6lbs for the contest. Fabio would also miss weight in his very next fight coming in at 209lbs just three months later.
In Fabio’s most recent fight, he beat Myron Dennis for the vacant LFA Light Heavyweight title (as well as successfully making championship weight) Now, Cherant has been called up to the UFC to step in against Alonzon Menifield after his original opponent, William Knight had to be removed from the card thanks to COVID safety protocols.
Because this bout is on short notice, as well as Fabio’s physical attributes and his weight cutting history, he will definitely be a fighter to watch at UFC 260’s weigh ins.
