Leading MMA promoter bans weight-cutting by dehydration

Prominent Asian mixed martial arts promoter One Championship announced Thursday it is banning weight-cutting by dehydration, weeks after one of its fighters died, reportedly following an attempt to make the weight for a bout.

China-born Yang Jian Bing, 21, who was due for a Manila bout, collapsed on December 10 and was taken to a hospital where he died a day later.

Philippine authorities this week said a heart attack caused his death.

One Championship's statement about the ban and its new weight-tracking programme did not mention Yang.

"By banning weight cutting by dehydration, we are leading the way globally for enhanced safety standards for professional MMA athletes," said One Championship chief executive officer Victor Cui in a statement.

One Championship said it would regularly monitor its fighters' weight as a way of reducing the widespread practice of fighters inching their way into categories by dehydrating themselves.

They will be weighed three hours before an event and can be disqualified if they do not fit within their weight class.

This will replace the practice used in many combat sports, such as boxing, where competitors need to meet weight limits at just one weigh-in, allowing them to dehydrate themselves beforehand.

"I invite the other two major global MMA organisations, Bellator and UFC, to follow in our footsteps to protect athletes and to eliminate the process of weight cutting by dehydration," Cui said.

Based in Singapore, One Championship maintains a stable of fighters signed to exclusive contracts for fights broadcast on cable television.

It claims to be Asia’s largest MMA promoter.
Source: AFP