Here’s the New ONE Championship Non-Dehydration Weigh-in Policy

Following a recent catastrophic incident, ONE Championship announced major changes to its weigh-in policy for the safety of its fighters, and then challenged mixed martial arts industry leaders, UFC and Bellator, to follow suit.

Tragedy befell ONE Championship earlier this month, as 21-year-old Chinese fighter Yang Jian Bing died following complications due to an unsuccessful weight cut. He had been scheduled to face Geje Eustaquio at ONE: Spirit of Champions in Manila on Dec. 11, but collapsed suddenly prior to weigh-ins and was rushed to hospital where doctors were unable to save him.

RELATED > ONE Championship Fighter Dies Following Failed Weight Cut

Not standing by and just accepting the tragedy, ONE has decided to ban weight-cutting by dehydration for its fighters. ONE is “instituting a new set of regulations and policies governing the weigh-in procedures and contracted weight limits. The new program, which is the first of its kind for combat sports, is focused on athlete safety by introducing ‘walking-weight’ competition via multiple weigh-ins and tests before and during fight week, including three hours before an event begins.”

The full details of the new ONE Championship athlete weight policy can be reviewed below (courtesy of onefc.com):

General Regulations & Policies Related to Athletes’ Weight

1. Athletes must submit their current walking weight and daily training weight regularly. Athletes will input and track their daily weight online via a dedicated web portal. Athletes may input data weekly but must include daily weights.
2. Athletes will be assigned to their weight class based on collated data and random weight checks. Athletes are not allowed to drop a weight class when less than 8 weeks out from an event.
3. During fight week, weights are checked daily. Urine specific gravity will also be checked the day after arrival and 3 hours prior to the event.  Athletes must be within their weight class and pass specific gravity hydration tests all week and up to 3 hours before the event.  If an athlete falls outside the weight, or fails a test, they are disqualified from the event.  Doctors may request additional testing at their discretion.
4. Catch weight bouts are allowed. However, the athlete with the higher weight will not be heavier than 105% of the lighter opponent’s weight.
5. ONE will conduct random weight checks on athletes at our discretion.
6. Athletes may petition to change weight classes outside of the 8-week competition zone and must be within their new desired weight at that time. In addition, athletes must pass a specific gravity urine test when their weight is within the limits of the newly petitioned weight class. ONE doctors can request additional testing to determine the amount of weight drop allowed over a specific time.
7. The usage of IVs for the purpose of rehydration will not be allowed.

Overage and limits of weight reduction:

• 3 weeks to event day: Athlete must be within contracted weight class
• 4 weeks: 1.5% bodyweight over max
• 5 weeks: 3%
• 6 weeks: 4.5%
• 7 weeks: 6%
• 8 weeks: +6% max over.

(ONE Chief Doctor may approve up to +/- 0.5% maximum error in any weekly weight check)