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 select 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.
Ketlen “Fenomeno” Vieira (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Bantamweight (135lbs.): 5-2 (UFC) Missed weight 1x in UFC
Ketlen Vieira entered the UFC in 2016. All of Vieira’s UFC fights and at least one of her six fights outside of the promotion have been in the bantamweight division.
Ketlen has a submission grappling background and at 5’8, 68″ also boasts a very muscular frame.
The lone time Vieira missed weight in the UFC came ahead of her most recent fight. Ketlen weighed in at 138lbs for her fight against Yana Kunitskaya, and to add insult to injury, ended up losing the bout via unanimous decision.
Ketlen has used her one allotted grace pound for every single UFC fight that she has been in thus far. Now 30 years old, Vieira will be a fighter for fans to keep an eye on as she heads to the scale for UFC Vegas 43.
