Weight cutting in mixed martial arts
Subject in Sports
Weight cutting in mixed martial arts has come up in 5 episodes across 1 podcast in TMT, including The Joe Rogan Experience. 5 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Joe RoganAmerican comedian and host of The Joe Rogan Experience
Rogan argues that weight cutting is the worst aspect of MMA and should be stopped.
“for people that have never done that before and don't know, it's fucking hard. Even 24 hours is hard. Weight cutting is the grossest thing in MMA”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthy (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 20:59
Rogan calls the practice of allowing fighters to dehydrate to a weight class the dumbest thing in the sport.
“it is the dumbest fucking thing we do in the sport where we allow these people to pretend that they weigh a certain way”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2498 - Brendan Schaub (May 13, 2026) · Listen from 32:33
Rogan argues that MMA promotions need more weight classes because the gaps between divisions are too large.
“we need more weight classes. I don't think there's nearly enough weight classes. I think the gaps are enormous”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #178 with Dan Hardy (May 6, 2026) · Listen from 31:06
Rogan calls weight cutting a form of sanctioned cheating that should have been eliminated long ago.
“I mean, I fucking hate weight cutting. I hate it so bad. I really do. I think it's sanctioned cheating”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #178 with Dan Hardy (May 6, 2026) · Listen from 24:01
Justin GaethjeAmerican mixed martial artist and Nurmagomedov's final opponent
Gaethje says he wants no changes to weight-cutting rules because fighters are adults making their own choices.
“For me, I want nothing to change. I mean, we are grown-ass men and women, and we're making these choices”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:12:53
Trevor WittmanAmerican boxing and MMA coach and founder of the Onyx combat-sports equipment brand
Wittman says his research suggests most recent boxing deaths occur late in fights and suspects dehydration from weight cutting plays a role.
“What stood out to me was almost every death in boxing in the last 10 to 15 years comes after”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor Wittman (Jun 20, 2026) · Listen from 1:13:46
John McCarthyVeteran MMA referee, PFL commentator and founder of the C.O.M.M.A.N.D. referee and judge training school
McCarthy argues random weigh-ins could be implemented by a promotion but not across the sport because of state licensing limits.
“You could do it as a promotion. You can't do it as an industry within the sport”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthy (May 27, 2026) · Listen from 22:14
Dan HardyBritish former UFC welterweight, PFL commentator and former head of PFL Europe fighter operations, host of the Full Reptile podcast
Hardy believes his poor weight cut in Japan cost him the power to stop Daizo Ishige, contributing to Ishige's brain injury.
“if I'd either not cut the weight or I'd cut the weight in a better way and rehydrated, I would have been able to stop him”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #178 with Dan Hardy (May 6, 2026) · Listen from 30:09
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- The Joe Rogan Experience · 5 episodes
Episodes
JRE MMA Show #181 with Justin Gaethje & Trevor WittmanThe Joe Rogan Experience · Jun 20, 2026 · 2 h 24 min
Joe Rogan talks with new UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and coach Trevor Wittman about Gaethje's title win over Ilia Topuria at the White House.
JRE MMA Show #179 with Josh Thompson & "Big" John McCarthyThe Joe Rogan Experience · May 27, 2026 · 2 h 52 min
Joe Rogan, referee Big John McCarthy and retired fighter Josh Thompson discuss MMA rules, weight cutting, judging, brain health, recent fights, the UFC White House card, ibogaine and California politics.
#2498 - Brendan SchaubThe Joe Rogan Experience · May 13, 2026 · 2 h 48 min
Joe Rogan and Brendan Schaub break down Strickland vs. Chimaev, UFC betting and fighter pay, streaming, social media, cars, and Schaub's Tubi show.
JRE MMA Show #178 with Dan HardyThe Joe Rogan Experience · May 6, 2026 · 2 h 53 min
Joe Rogan and Dan Hardy discuss Hardy's UFC exit over a Herb Dean stoppage, weight cutting, MMA commentary, fight analysis, scoring rules and the PFL.
#2492 - Ari ShaffirThe Joe Rogan Experience · Apr 30, 2026 · 2 h 42 min
Joe Rogan and comedian Ari Shaffir discuss Shaffir's seven months of off-grid travel, psychedelic drug policy, MMA weight cutting, Gaza, ancient megaliths, and his storytelling series The End.