Cutting weight has long been one of the most talked-about aspects of mixed martial arts. Extreme dehydration before weigh-ins has caused a lot of health problems, bad performances, and long-term damage to competitors in the UFC. But ONE Championship has done things very differently in Asia. They have changed how fighters prepare by using a weight control approach based on water. The debate now is whether the UFC should use ONE Championship’s system for measuring hydration?
Understanding UFC Weight Cutting Problems
A lot of times, competitors in the UFC lose 15 to 20 pounds of water weight in the days before a fight. This is done to get a size advantage on fight night, but it comes with a lot of risks. When you don’t drink enough water, the protective fluid around your brain gets thinner, which makes concussions more likely. It makes the body unable to fight and feel less energetic, so fighters are tired before they even go into the cage. It can also cause major medical emergencies, such as kidney problems, seizures, and, in some circumstances, complications that could be fatal.
Fans have seen the results of this dangerous practice over the years. Before a weigh-in, Renan Barao once passed out. Khabib Nurmagomedov had to go to the hospital after a bad cut. Charles Oliveira has had trouble making weight many times. Though these things have happened, the practice goes on because athletic commissions are in charge of weigh-ins, and the UFC uses the same method that has been in place for decades.
The ONE Championship Hydration Testing System
ONE Championship took a bold step in 2015 after a young fighter, Yang Jian Bing, tragically passed away due to complications from weight cutting. In response, the promotion banned dehydration-based weight cuts and introduced a hydration testing system that obligates fighters to compete closer to their natural weight.
This system requires athletes to pass a hydration test before they can officially weigh in. Using urine analysis, officials check whether fighters are properly hydrated. If they are dehydrated, they cannot proceed with the weigh-in until they rehydrate. These checks are performed multiple times leading up to fight day, making it nearly impossible for athletes to manipulate their bodies with extreme water cuts. The result is that fighters in ONE Championship usually look healthier, fresher, and more energized compared to many of their UFC counterparts.
Benefits of Hydration Testing in MMA
It would be clear right away what the benefits of hydration testing would be for the UFC. Fighter safety would go up since dehydration, which is one of the most dangerous parts of cutting weight, would be much less of a problem. Athletes would be healthier when they enter the cage because their kidneys would be stronger, their cardiovascular endurance would not be compromised, and there would be more fluid around their brains, which lessens the chance of concussions.
The performance would also get better. When fighters are well-hydrated, they can move faster, have better reflexes, and keep their energy up for longer. The competition would also be more fair because fighters would be matched up more closely to their natural size instead of using weight manipulation to obtain huge size advantages. Even well-known people in the sport, like Rich Franklin, a UFC Hall of Famer who now works with ONE Championship, have said that the hydration system is the greatest approach to keep fighters safe.
Challenges for the UFC
Even though there are apparent benefits, the UFC would have a lot of problems if it used the same system. The hardest part is following the rules. State athletic commissions approve UFC events and set the rules for weigh-ins and weight categories. Any change would need to be approved by a lot of people on these commissions, which would make the transition very hard.
Another issue is the potential for cheating among fighters. Critics say that hydration tests aren’t always accurate, and fighters can change their urine samples by drinking distilled water, using diuretics, or getting fluids through an IV. There are still scientific issues regarding how accurate hydration tests are because food, muscle mass, and medicine can all change the findings even if a fighter is really hydrated.
Weight classes would also change a lot. A lot of UFC competitors would have to jump up a weight class since they could no longer count on losing a lot of water weight. This would mess up rankings, matchups, and even the championship scene. Also, both viewers and fighters are used to the tradition of weight cutting. People who see it as part of the sport’s culture would probably oppose any attempt to get rid of it.
Could the UFC Realistically Do It?
The UFC might start doing hydration tests, but it would take a lot of planning and time to do it effectively. The organisation might not want to change the whole system right away. Instead, they could start by trying out hydration checks at some events, maybe outside the U.S. where commissions have less power. This would give them an opportunity to make the process better, make the testing more accurate, and fill any possible gaps.
Education would also be very important. Fighters, coaches, and fans need to know why hydration testing is safer and how it helps athletes’ health in the long run. By slowly pushing the sport toward “walking weight” divisions, the UFC could reduce resistance and ease the transition without impacting the entire system.
Final Verdict
Should the UFC use ONE Championship’s system for measuring hydration? Yes, from a health and safety point of view. In MMA, hydration testing is a clear approach to avoid harmful weight cuts, help fighters do better, and protect their long-term health. But in reality, adoption is hard. There are athletic commissions, customs, and a culture of cutting weight that are all part of the UFC.
A mixed approach could be the best way to go. The UFC should start by adding hydration tests to some cards, collecting data, and slowly working with commissions to make weight management safer. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction. As the sport grows, the need to protect fighters will only rise.
The UFC is still using its old model for now, but it’s hard to deny the increasing evidence in favour of ONE Championship’s hydration testing technique. If fighter safety really does become the first issue, the UFC may soon follow the suit.
