UFC Weigh in Etiquette
Let me be clear first of all, I am a big fan of the weighins. For fans, and particularly for bettors, the weigh in offers a priceless up close look at the fighter before fight day. You can assess his condition, see how badly the weight cut affected him and most importantly, you can check his facial expression and attitude as he comes face to face with his opponent for the final time before the fight.
The weigh in also offers a chance to gauge fan reaction to the fighter. Usually the weigh in is preceded by weeks or months of storylines about the fighter, which can lead up to either thundering cheers (Meisha Tate last night) or vociferous boos.
However there are a few things about the weigh ins that make you scratch your head as to why things are done the way they are. Here are a few of my complaints, and some suggestions.
- Why are fighters not already stripped and ready to be weighed BEFORE THEY STEP ON THE STAGE??
Last night for example, one fighter went up for his weigh in and first had to remove his hat, several t shirts, then unbuckle his belt, then remove his pants, his shoes, his socks, before finally stepping on the scale to be weighed. Then there are fighters who after weighing in successfully will first take a long leisurely swig of liquid (Uriah Faber, I counted almost 90 seconds once), before putting his pants back on and then walking over to square off with the opponent. This drives me nuts and is a colossal waste of time.
Solution: Have the fighters change into an official weighin outfit, BEFORE going on stage. Once on stage, simply drop his weigh in attire and step on the scale. There should be plenty of other chances to get his sponsors name before the cameras. Let the weigh in be reserved for weigh ins.
- Note to the UFC/Fox production team: Mic the weighin crowd, please! It drives me nuts when a fighter goes on stage and you cannot really hear if the crowd is booing, or cheering. Mic ing the crowd up would only add to the excitement of the weighin.
- Joe Rogan: why not go a step further and announce the people of importance in a fighter’s entourage? Last night for example, in one fighter’s posse was none other than Rousimar Poulhares. I think it would no doubt add to the aura of the event to have Rogan announce ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m sure you recognize assisting Thales Leites tonight is none other than one of the finest welterweights in the world Rousimar Poulhares!’ Hell if Burt Watson who really does nothing more than point to where a fighter should stand, if he can get a special shoutout, dammit, Rousimar Poulhares can get one too!
- Celebrities in the crowd are nice, but even nicer still would be more pop for ex fighters. Tank Abbot, Tim Sylvia, Don Frye or Kevin Randleman, might not be as aesthetically pleasing as Demi Lovato, but I’d much rather see them on the celeb cam and it would be good for the game for them to get some love from the crowd at an event.
- Last of all, GET RID OF THAT ANTIQUATED SCALE PLEASE!!! Jesus! It’s frikking 2015. We have put entire stereo systems and televisions into phones no bigger than 4.7 inches. No one has yet designed a scale that doesn't have to be scrutinized and prodded and tapped over and over to get a true weight??!?
