A rehydration clause is part of gaming contracts in boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) which limits the amount of weight a fighter is permitted to gain following the official weighing. This clause is there to prevent fighters from cutting weight before the fight and then gaining weight back after for a size/strength advantage.
Discussions of rehydration clauses are hot in combat sports and often cause controversies among fighters, trainers and fans. Some people say these clauses make sure that there is a fair fight, while some people believe that fighters don’t fight well enough as they restrict a proper recovery.
How Does a Rehydration Clause Work?
Usually, fighters are required to weigh in 24-36 hours before a fight to ensure they make the agreed weight. But, many fighters lose water weight to make weight, they gain back a lot of pounds through rehydrating themselves after.
A rehydration clause says that a fighter must weigh no more than a specified amount after the first weigh-in. To enforce this, there’s usually a second weigh-in on fight day where fighters can’t exceed the agreed maximum weight. Each fighter has a weight limit. If they exceed that then they will be penalized.
Why Do Fighters Cut Weight?
Weight cutting is a common strategy in combat sports. Fighters usually weigh in at a lower weight class to gain a size and strength advantage on fight night with the intention of cutting weight. But, weight cutting does not come without risks as severe cuts can lead to severe dehydration.
Since many fighters use extreme weight cuts to gain an unfair advantage, some promoters and commissions will add a rehydration clause.
Rehydration Clause Controversies
The rehydration clauses causes a divisive issue in boxing and MMA. Some think they are necessary so that fighters remain safe and act fairly towards one another. Some others think they aren’t necessary because of how they limit how athletes can act.
Arguments in Favor of Rehydration Clauses:
- Prevents extreme weight cutting, which can be dangerous and impact a fighter’s health.
- Ensures fair competition by preventing massive size mismatches.
- Reduces performance-enhancing hydration tactics, keeping the sport balanced.
Arguments Against Rehydration Clauses:
- Limits fighters’ ability to recover, potentially affecting performance and increasing health risks.
- Some fighters view it as manipulative, giving an unfair advantage to opponents who naturally fight at that weight.
- Not all organizations use rehydration clauses, leading to inconsistencies in rules.
Notable Fights with Rehydration Clauses
Some of the biggest boxing bouts in history have had rehydration clauses. Fighters such as Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, and Floyd Mayweather participated in fights with strict rehydration limits. Many fights have ended in controversy with some fighters claiming they lost due to the weight rehydration clause.
In the 2019 match between Canelo Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs, there was a rehydration clause for Jacobs that said he could not gain more than 10 pounds after the weigh-in. The rule was controversial because Jacobs was naturally a bigger fighter than Canelo, but he had to restrict his weight.
Conclusion
A rehydration clause is a rule in combat sports that is controversial. It aims to make conditions fairer and to limit the risks of extreme weight cutting. The critics, however, believe that it limits fighters’ natural recovery and may be used for tactical disadvantage.
As fighting sports keeps changing, the talks over rehydration clauses will continue. Whether seen as a safety measure or a competitive disadvantage, rehydration clauses have become a key feature of modern fight contracts, shaping the strategy and outcome of fights.
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