If the fight does not go ahead, the fighter who did not make weight will be fined a percentage of their show money. ![]() If this opponent agrees to fight at a catchweight, around 30% of the fighter’s earnings will go to their opponent for disadvantaging them.Īny bonuses, such as the ‘Fight of the Night’ bonus, will also automatically be given to their opponent. If the fighter is still unable to make weight, the decision lies with the opponent who weighed in successfully. Fighters are allowed to weigh up to one pound heavier than the maximum weight for their division in a non-title fight, but if they are fighting for the title, weights must be precise. Immediately following the weigh-in, the overweight fighter is still given the opportunity over the next two hours to lose more weight and qualify for the match. What happens if a UFC Fighter is Overweight?Īs I have mentioned, when a UFC fighter does not make weight (because they are overweight), the fight will either be cancelled, or will continue as a catchweight bout. This bonus is taken from the winnings of the fighter that did not make weight, which I will explain in more detail below. If the fighter chooses to accept the new weight limit, they have the opportunity to earn their show money, but will also automatically receive a bonus. If the fight is cancelled, the fighter who did the right thing will usually get paid “some money” as compensation (click here for full quote from Dana White). If they adhered to their contract but their opponent did not make weight, they have the power to choose between fighting and cancelling the bout. However, the decision to go ahead with a catchweight bout ultimately belongs to the fighter who did make weight. It was therefore decided by the Sports Commission that he would only be allowed to fight if the fighters agreed on a catchweight of 140lbs. Barao was hospitalized in his attempts to lose weight before his Bantamweight bout with Sterling. This was the case in the example mentioned above between Sterling and Barao. One of the reasons why fighters don’t make their weight is that they simply misjudged how much weight they could lose before the weigh-ins.Īnother reason is that it is medically unsafe for them to do so. Therefore, fighters try to achieve a weight as close as possible to the maximum for their weight division. Having extra weight gives a fighter an advantage, which I will explain in more detail further down. This is a result of one or both fighters being unable to lose enough pounds before the weigh-ins, meaning they are heavier than the maximum allowable weight. What is Catchweight Bout? (What Causes It?)Ī catchweight bout simply refers to a fight where the participants have agreed on a catchweight instead of the limits of their weight division. Normally the Bantamweight division limits fighters to 135lbs, but Barao could not cut enough weight to reach 135lbs. For example, UFC 214 Bantamweight fight between Aljamain Sterling and Renan Barao became a catchweight fight with a 140lbs weight limit. The catchweight is usually set to the weight of the heavier fighter. This alternative weight limit strays from the original weight limit specified in the fight contract, but is agreed upon by both fighters prior to the bout. I will outline the traditional weight classes in more detail at the end of this article. ![]() What is Catchweight?Ĭatchweight refers to any weight limit in a fight that does not adhere to the traditional limits for weight divisions in the UFC. I will explain this, as well as other elements to a fighter’s weight limit, below. ![]() This advantage is sometimes not worth it for the penalties that are also enforced on the overweight fighter. You may be wondering how a heavier fighter can still fight if they didn’t follow the rules, giving them a clear advantage. Catchweight often occurs when one or both fighters cannot lose enough weight before the weigh-ins, meaning they are heavier than the maximum permitted weight. The UFC sets up a catchweight fight when both fighters accept the new negotiated weight, discarding the weight limits of their division. So, in simple terms, what is catch weight in the UFC? ![]() However, as with many UFC rules, there is still an air of mystery, making it difficult to follow your favorite UFC fights. Many unusual terms are used in the UFC, and one that you often hear is “catch weight fight.” You have probably heard this term before and generally understood it. UFC catchweight bout (Gastelum missed weight)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |