'Cyborg' rolls smaller foe after weigh-in sham

[honest_truth]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cag...urn=mma,155096

It was as predictable as Godzilla crushing an ant. Female fighting sensation Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos destroyed Hitomi Akano at the HP Pavillion in San Jose on Saturday night.

But it was a hollow victory in the eyes of most observers, after a 12-hour long weigh-in debacle in the lead up to the fight that left a black eye on the sport of women's mixed martial arts.



The fight was scheduled to be contested at 145 pounds, but Santos missed by seven pounds and the fight was nearly scrapped in the aftermath. Akano usually fights at 135 pounds and has fought as low as 128 pounds.


The massive size disparity was evident from the outset. Every time the fighters clinched, Akano, who specializes in grappling and submissions on the ground, was thrown around like a rag doll. Akano was on her horse for much the two-plus rounds attempting only 24 strikes on the feet. She landed 10 while Cyborg drilled her with 61 knees, kicks, punches and elbows over the course of seven minutes.



Cyborg finished the fight with a knee and three huge rights. Referee Josh Rosenthal had to jump in to save Akano from permanent damage at the 0:35 mark of the third round.



On Friday, Santos weighed in at 152 and was never made to cut her weight down anywhere near Akano, who weighed just 143.5. Akano and manager Shu Hirata threatened to pull out of the fight, stating it wasn't about money. Hirata said the stars of female fighting are too often allowed to ignore weight limits:Negotiations ended at 2 a.m. PT and Akano was guaranteed her win bonus plus several more fights with the promotion. Reports last night said that Cyborg had already re-plenished her body back up to 158 pounds by midnight. She walked into the cage in San Jose at the Strikeforce event roughly 20 pounds heavier and it showed.

What i dont get, is why they bother setting weights like 145 or 135, muscle weights more than fat.

so i expect an athletic woman who is 5'8, trains in combat sports and needs strength, to weight a healthy 155 pounds. why bother setting those low weights when you know fighters will have problems getting there and will do it through dehydration ?.

input from our female members would be nice, what weight do you fight at and do you have problems getting there ?

[rsobrien]

That fight was ridiculous.

The real problem I think is that there are not enough women fighting to make up different weight classes. Thats why you get a fight with a little 5'0 japanese girl can fight a 5' 8" monster like cyborg.

[Torakaka]

Ugh, I hate that this crap is so common. As a professional fighter, being even a pound over weight is unacceptable and would normally be considered a breech of contract.

It is pretty necessary for the heavier women, particularly in a sport like MMA that's still fairly low in number of competitors, to cut weight so they can fight lighter opponents. Once you get over 135lbs, the numbers start thinning out and finding fights can be a problem.

Crap like this is unacceptable, though. If you agree to fight at a certain weight, you make that weight or you don't fight. Strikeforce bargaining with fighters to get them to take unfair and dangerous fights against significantly heavier opponents who fail to make weight is bullshit.

[sambosteve]

Women's MMA has a heavier division, but there are less fighters there. But, this BS we saw last night is not about the fighters IMO, it is about professional match-making by strikeforce. Why make a match that you have little chance of doing fairly? Still, if Cyborg agreed to a weight, she should bust her ass to that weight. It was very unprofessional. This fight was rediculous. Just put Carano and Cyborg together in a heavier weight class or a catch weight fight. Bring in more light women for the lower weight classes. There are plenty out there.

[The Fake Macoy]

Yeah, they really need more weight classes. I wonder how long it will take for the sport to grow enough to allow multiple female weight classes. On the bright side, at least Strikeforce did draw attention to the fact that the fight was pretty unfair due to the weight disadvantage, like they said they would.

[sambosteve]

Yeah, they really need more weight classes. I wonder how long it will take for the sport to grow enough to allow multiple female weight classes. On the bright side, at least Strikeforce did draw attention to the fact that the fight was pretty unfair due to the weight disadvantage, like they said they would.

I believe that was part of the negotiations with Akano's people. Strikeforce had to publically discuss the weight issues with Cyborg if Akano was going to fight.

[Hesperus]

Because not being as good as men wasn't enough reason to avoid women's MMA...

[jimmywangyu]

I personally do not think its really that bad...its only a 10 pound difference

but that cyborg chick is one ugly ass hoe...scary ass hoe, so props to the asian girl:viking:

[JohnnyCache]

I'm in a tiny minority here but I think it would be rad to have weigh ins about an hour before fights. Just cut all the dehydrating right out of the picture.

[Torakaka]

I personally do not think its really that bad...its only a 10 pound difference

but that cyborg chick is one ugly ass hoe...scary ass hoe, so props to the asian girl:viking:

The difference between 143 and 158 is not 10lbs. Even 10lbs is pretty damn significant when you're 143lbs.

[han090]

I'm in a tiny minority here but I think it would be rad to have weigh ins about an hour before fights. Just cut all the dehydrating right out of the picture.

I personally agree. Your ability to cut weight shouldn't be giving you an advantage in the fight.

Either you weight the proper amount, or you don't.

Of course,it could mean last minute fight cancellations, and it'd take away the spectacle of the pre fight weigh ins.

I personally do not think its really that bad...its only a 10 pound difference

but that cyborg chick is one ugly ass hoe...scary ass hoe, so props to the asian girl:viking:

10 pounds of pure muscle can make a huge difference.

[Hesperus]

I'm in a tiny minority here but I think it would be rad to have weigh ins about an hour before fights. Just cut all the dehydrating right out of the picture.

Haha, no. Shit idea, people will still dehydrate and cut weight, they'll just die in the ring instead of recuperating for a day.

[G-Off]

I'm in a tiny minority here but I think it would be rad to have weigh ins about an hour before fights. Just cut all the dehydrating right out of the picture.

It would be cool if it worked out that way. Some fighters would probably still try to play the system and end up dehydrated for the fight. I think the safety issue with idiots dehydrating themselves close to fight time is why they hold the weigh-ins the day before.

I think Cyborg was just preparing for what Gina will do when they fight. Catch weight of 155, anyone?

[Anna Kovacs]

This trend is great news for my fatass. Fuck ever making weight again, pizza and hotdogs here I come.

[G-Off]

This trend is great news for my fatass. Fuck ever making weight again, pizza and hotdogs here I come.

Unfortunately you have to get semi-famous and have Strikeforce start coddling you/betting female MMA's future on you before they'll let you get away with it.

I mean, imagine if Akano had been the overweight one? Strikeforce would've thrown a hissy fit and banned her gym from competing in their org ever again.