CSAC passes rule to combat extreme weight-cutting

The California State Athletic Commission voted Tuesday to pass new a rule that will cancel bouts if a fighter weighs more than 15% above the contracted weight on the day of an event, according to ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

The rule was created in an attempt to combat extreme weight-cutting. CSAC hopes to deter mixed martial artists from shedding a large amount of water in order to make weight, only to gain it back for competition a day later.

MMA fighters often gain anywhere from 8% to 18% of their weight back between weigh-ins and the fight itself, Raimondi adds.

"To me, that's a health and safety issue," CSAC executive officer Andy Foster said. "It's sanctioned cheating."

Foster added he'd like to see promoters and fighters become more open to catchweights rather than facing class restrictions.

Under the new rule, the main event at UFC Sacramento in July between Aspen Ladd and Germaine de Randamie would have been canceled. Ladd made weight at 135 pounds the day before the bout but ballooned up to 159 pounds on fight day. Three fights at UFC 241 would have been called off as well.

According to CSAC's data, 28 fights from January to October took place after fighters bulked up more than 15% above the contracted weight.