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.
Nick Diaz (26-9 MMA, 7-6, 1 NC UFC)
“Lightweight” (160lbs): 2-1, 1 NC (MMA)
Welterweight (170lbs): 7-6 (UFC), Former UFC Welterweight Title Challenger, 10-1 (MMA), Former Strikeforce & WEC Welterweight Champion
Catchweight (180lbs): 2-0 (Strikeforce)
Middleweight (185lbs): 1 NC (UFC)
At UFC 266, Nick Diaz will be returning to the octagon for a rematch against Robbie Lawler, 17 years after their first meeting.
It’s not too much of a surprise that the 6’0″ tall Diaz no longer wants to fight at 170lbs, and elected to fight at middleweight for his comeback fight. Although maybe announcing the weight class change on fight week was. Considering that Diaz is now 38 years old it is definitely more difficult to cut weight. Combined with the added factor of being inactive for just so long its not hard to see why middleweight is the right division to fight at.
Diaz has had success in multiple weight classes although his most successful weight class was undoubtedly welterweight, where he has many of his signature wins including becoming both a Strikeforce and WEC Welterweight Champion.
Nick Diaz has experience in the middleweight division even though he has only fought there once. Actually, the last time that fans saw Diaz in the octagon was at 185lbs, against Anderson Silva in 2015.
