How the UFC's new weigh-in policies could affect its biggest stars
Mixed martial artists have been beating the scale for years, but now it's time for the scale to strike back.
With the UFC set to implement changes to their weigh-in policies that include a fight week check-in upon the fighters' arrival at the host city, it could mean massive changes to the company landscape, with several names having to move up a division to accommodate the new rules.
While the idea has significant merit when it comes to health and safety, it's going to make it difficult for the fighters used to cutting massive amounts of water weight during fight week to continue the practice, since they'll have to show up at a more natural weight earlier in the week.
Even though the company has a history of bending the rules for their moneymaking stars, there are a few whose careers will be drastically affected by the policy.
Related: New UFC fight week check-in weights start in July
Conor McGregor
All you have to do is look at featherweight champion Conor McGregor during any of his previous weigh-ins to see that he's not a happy camper having to make 145.
It's the division where he made his name, but he always talked about wanting to move up to 155 pounds at some point, both in the pursuit of another title and to avoid having to undergo the grueling weight cut.
McGregor has proven he is a massive draw at any weight class, so the chances of him returning to featherweight just became that much slimmer.
Luke Rockhold
Current middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is a sizable 185er, standing a staunch 6'3" with a chiseled physique. He's expressed an interest in competing at 205 pounds in the past, so it's not a stretch to see him having to make the jump.
The light heavyweight division is one of the weakest in the organization and Rockhold could do some serious damage there given his athleticism and skill set. If friend and training partner Daniel Cormier can't unseat Jon Jones, don't be surprised if Rockhold eventually steps up to the plate.
Cris Cyborg
Cris Cyborg better kiss those women's bantamweight title fights goodbye.
If anyone is still harboring the delusion that Cyborg will be able to cut down to 135 pounds to face Miesha Tate or Ronda Rousey or whoever for a UFC belt, that had to be dispelled by the 147 pound max check-in weight established on Friday.
Nutritionist George Lockhart was praised for helping Cyborg make weight for her UFC debut on May 14. Cyborg allegedly cut down from around 160 pounds to make the 140-pound catchweight limit, the lowest she'd ever competed at.
But Lockhart isn't a miracle worker.
Barring a drastic change to Cyborg's diet and physique, the stars of the women's bantamweight division will have to agree to meet Cyborg at a catchweight to make a marquee match possible. And even that might be too tall a task for Cyborg once the new policies are in place.