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.
Jennifer Maia (19-7-1 MMA, 4-3 UFC)
Flyweight (125lbs.): 4-3 (UFC), Missed weight 2x in UFC, Former UFC Flyweight Title Challenger, Former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion
Jennifer Maia is a WCC alum that joined the UFC back in mid 2018.
Before joining the promotional giant, Maia won the Invicta FC belt at 125lbs and successfully defended it two times.
In July of 2019 Maia missed weight weighing in at 129lbs for a bout against Roxanne Modafferi. Maia won the bout the following day, via unanimous decision, and was subsequently propelled into a title shot eliminator.
Jennifer missed weight again ahead of her next bout against Katlyn Chookagain coming in a 127.2lbs for the bout. And this time, Maia was the fighter on the wrong side of a unanimous decision.
#UFC244 weigh-in results:
Jennifer Maia 127.2 lbs.
Maia misses weight for the second straight event. pic.twitter.com/kSu5wYn92J
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) November 1, 2019
Maia has not missed weight since that bout and even was able to weigh in bellow the 125lbs limit for her title shot against Valentina Shevchenko back in November of 2020.
Now 33 years old, Maia will be a fighter to keep an eye on at the scales ahead of her UFC Vegas 46 bout.
