Ali Akbar RosadyThe California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has released the official fight night weights for the PFL San Diego event held on Saturday, highlighting significant rehydration figures across multiple divisions and reigniting discussions around extreme weight cutting practices in mixed martial arts. The data, disclosed via email to MMA Fighting on Monday, underscores the challenges fighters face in meeting prescribed weight limits and the subsequent physiological adjustments made before stepping into the cage. The CSAC’s proactive approach to monitoring these post-weigh-in fluctuations aims to enhance fighter safety and ensure competitive fairness within the sport.
A.J. McKee, a former Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix champion and one of the PFL’s most high-profile acquisitions, demonstrated one of the most substantial rehydration percentages. McKee, who has openly stated his return to the featherweight division (145 pounds) is solely motivated by the pursuit of a PFL championship, tipped the scale at 145.6 pounds during Friday’s official weigh-ins. By Saturday’s fight night, "Mercenary" had rehydrated to a formidable 171.4 pounds, marking an increase of 25.8 pounds, or an 18% gain, from his weigh-in weight. This considerable fluctuation provides further empirical evidence for McKee’s previous assertions that making the 145-pound limit is a rigorous undertaking for him.
In the main event, McKee secured a decision victory over Salamat Isbulaev, who was making his PFL debut and suffered his first professional loss. Isbulaev, a promising prospect, also exhibited a significant weight gain. After weighing in at 145.8 pounds, the Russian fighter rehydrated by 16.7 pounds, reaching 162.5 pounds on fight night, an 11% increase. While McKee’s size advantage was evident, Isbulaev’s own rehydration indicates the pervasive nature of this practice across the division. McKee’s victory improved his professional record to 22-1, maintaining his momentum since joining the PFL roster. Isbulaev’s record now stands at 13-1.
The co-main event also featured notable weight changes, particularly from Liz Carmouche, a seasoned veteran of the sport with a storied career spanning Strikeforce, UFC, and now PFL. Carmouche, known as "Girl-Rilla," delivered an impressive submission victory over UFC veteran Viviane Araujo, further solidifying her position as a top contender in the PFL’s flyweight division. Carmouche weighed in at 126 pounds on Friday. By Saturday evening, she had rehydrated to 147 pounds, gaining 21 pounds, which represents a 17% increase. Following her win, Carmouche openly discussed the arduous nature of cutting down to the 125-pound flyweight limit and expressed a desire for the PFL to introduce a women’s bantamweight division (135 pounds), echoing sentiments often heard from fighters struggling with extreme weight cuts. Despite the challenges, Carmouche’s current trajectory positions her for potential future clashes, including a highly anticipated showdown against undefeated British phenom Dakota Ditcheva, should she continue her dominance at flyweight. Carmouche’s win advanced her record to 21-8. Viviane Araujo, who weighed 125.8 pounds on Friday, increased her weight by 13.3 pounds to 139.1 pounds on fight night, an 11% gain, dropping her record to 12-7.
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Beyond the headlining acts, the data revealed consistent patterns of significant rehydration throughout the card. Alfie Davis, a prominent lightweight contender, registered the highest percentage weight gain on the entire card. Weighing in at 156 pounds for his lightweight bout, Davis packed on an astonishing 29.1 pounds before his fight against Alexander Shabliy, reaching 185.1 pounds—a staggering 19% increase. This level of rehydration highlights the extremes some athletes undertake to gain a size advantage after meeting the official weigh-in criteria. Davis’s opponent, Alexander Shabliy, also rehydrated substantially, going from 155.8 pounds to 172.6 pounds, a 16.8-pound (11%) gain.
The release of fight night weights by the CSAC is part of a broader initiative within combat sports to mitigate the severe health risks associated with rapid and extreme weight cutting, which often involves significant dehydration. Dehydration can impair cognitive function, cardiovascular health, and increase susceptibility to injuries, including concussions. By providing transparency on these post-weigh-in figures, commissions aim to gather data that can inform future policy decisions, such as potential adjustments to weigh-in protocols or the implementation of hydration testing. While the practice of rehydration is common, the extent of these gains underscores the need for continuous monitoring and dialogue within the sport.
Across the PFL San Diego card, nearly every fighter exhibited double-digit percentage gains from their official weigh-in weight to their fight night weight, reinforcing that these substantial fluctuations are standard practice rather than isolated incidents. For example, in the light heavyweight division, Abraham Bably (205.6 lbs to 220.1 lbs, 14.5 lbs, 7%) and Rob Wilkinson (205.8 lbs to 226.1 lbs, 20.3 lbs, 10%) showed considerable increases. Featherweights Khasan Magomedsharipov (145.8 lbs to 163 lbs, 17.2 lbs, 12%) and Joshua Weems (146 lbs to 163.5 lbs, 17.5 lbs, 12%) also demonstrated significant rehydration. In the women’s flyweight division, Ariane da Silva (126 lbs to 142 lbs, 16 lbs, 13%) and Jena Bishop (125 lbs to 136 lbs, 11 lbs, 9%) were among those who put on considerable mass. Bantamweight competitors Justin Wetzell (135.6 lbs to 158 lbs, 22.8 lbs, 17%) and Sarvardzhon Hamido (137.6 lbs to 158.1 lbs, 20.5 lbs, 15%) also illustrate the pervasive nature of this practice across lighter weight classes.
The consistent and often dramatic rehydration figures reported by the CSAC at PFL San Diego serve as a critical data point for the ongoing conversation about athlete welfare and the integrity of competition in mixed martial arts. As the sport continues to evolve, the transparency provided by commissions like the CSAC becomes increasingly vital in fostering a safer and more equitable environment for professional fighters.
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