If there is one continuous epidemic in the MMA world right now that seemingly has no end, it is the fact that fighters continue to fail at making weight for fights.
Longtime MMA veteran Chael Sonnen wants to see fighters who miss weight face much harsher treatment than they already do.
“My solution is ‘you’re done, you’re not fighting, go home,’” Sonnen said on Beyond The Fight. “’You’re cut, you’re released’, however extreme you want to get with it. ’You broke the deal, you cheated, you lied on the contract, and we’re not using you.’ And I agree that with the plethora of people in MMA that miss weight, sometimes two and three people a night, that that is a significant problem.”
One of the most recent high profile weight misses was of Mackenzie Dern, who came in seven pounds overweight for a fight against Amanda Cooper at UFC 224.
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz called out Dern for the missed weight and Sonnen is appreciative of the fighter for doing so.
“I really did appreciate that Dom called it out because that’s what it is,” Sonnen said. “You cheated, there’s a rule here. A signed, written rule that comes with a punishment.”
The current penalty for missing weight is a percentage of the fighters purse goes to the opponent and the possible cancellation of the fight.
