Cesar Gracie Follows Up on Diaz's Weight

by Mike Fagan on Jun 14, 2008 6:52 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

A lot of speculation on this and none of it is right. Here's what happened. At 9:30 AM Nick informs me that he is having trouble making weight. Speculated that after accidentaly ingesting salt water on an ocean swim he had gotten sick and was finding it hard to cut the remaining last few pounds. Nick takes great pride in being a professional and has always made weight in his mma career and grappling tournaments so this was really bothering him. A couple of hours later he is at 167.5 and it is obvious he is not making the weight. I figure at best he could make 164 but then he would be exhausted and still fined by EliteXC. Better to stay where he's at.

Nick on his own reaches out to Mushin and his camp and explains the situation. Apologizes and asks to make it at the next weight up and offers to compensate from his purse. They agree and after explaining the situation to EliteXC everyone agrees. If Nick had weighed in over weight the fight would still have happened regardless with Nick losing probably anywhere from 10-12% of his purse. This way Nick paid out of pocket more than that and Mushin will receive more money than his fight purse. That's why Mushin came in over the weight also.

Again, Mushin is being paid a significant sum directly from Nick's fight purse. Since Mushin agreed should there really be an issue over this?

Should this be taken at face value? If so, looks like Nick handled it as professionally as possible. And technically didn't come in overweight if this had been agreed to before the bout.

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“I figure at best he could make 164 but then he would be exhausted and still fined by EliteXC. Better to stay where he’s at.”

This tells you all you need to know about weight cutting. IMO, it gives Diaz an unfair advantage of not going through the physical and mental strain of making weight, or even coming close for that matter.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 14, 2008 7:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

The last three weeks of missed weights have started a disturbing precedent on making weight. It’s almost as if the weight limit is just a suggestion, and not making weight is tolerated as long as you have an excuse and are a big name in the organization. I personally don’t give a crap about the excuses anymore. It’s just not good for the sport to have this happen with this kind of frequency, and above all, it’s terribly unfair to the opponent who’s busted their ass to get to the prescribed weight. As long as the promotions and the athletic commissions allow it, I guess it’s going to keep happening.

by Cannon Jacques on Jun 14, 2008 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes. I think having these pre-agreed catch weights makes it even worse, since, as you see here, they just abandon the whole process.

Not making weight is one thing, but not even trying is another. they should have the weigh-ins, then a 2 hour period to try and make weight, then and only then, can they negotiate a catch weight, which, imo, should be no more than 5 pounds off the original weight.

"They said you was hung!!"

"And they was RIGHT!"

by BJJDenver on Jun 14, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs