Report: 2 commissions adopt CSAC's weight-cutting reform
Slowly but surely, athletic commissions are following the lead of their California counterpart.
The Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulations and the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) will adopt either several or all of the measures the CSAC approved last year to combat extreme weight cutting, officials told MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi and Guilherme Cruz on Thursday.
The CABMMA approved the 10-point reform this past summer, but won't begin abiding by it until this weekend's UFC Fight Night 125 in Belem, COO Cristiano Sampaio told Cruz. Bantamweight Iuri Alcantara recently fielded a recommendation to move up in weight following his bout at UFC Fight Night 123 in Fresno, but has reportedly been cleared to remain at 135 pounds for his date with Joe Soto on Saturday's bill.
The Mohegan commission, on the other hand, has already implemented earlier weigh-ins and additional weight classes, and will adopt seven of the CSAC's 10 original tenets. Bellator 194 - set for Feb. 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena - will mark the commission's first event subject to its revamped policies.
Fighters under the sanctioning body's watch will now have to be cleared by a physician to compete in a specific weight class at the time of their physical. Fighters' weights will also be verified on fight day to determine whether they've gained more than 10 percent of the contractually agreed upon poundage. If so, the commission will recommend said fighter moves up a weight class - hence Alcantara's predicament - with the same applying to those who miss their mark on the scale more than once.
Hydration tests will also be conducted during the additional weight check.
Alcantara was one of four fighters the CSAC asked to change divisions following the Fresno bill, the others being lightweight Davi Ramos and bantamweights Marlon Moraes and Luke Sanders. Former Invicta FC bantamweight queen Yana Kunitskaya and longtime UFC lightweight Drew Dober also fielded such recommendations, with the latter moving up to 170 pounds for last weekend's fight with Frank Camacho at UFC on FOX 27.