August 27, 2024,
This is one time that you will not tip the scales in your favor. Do that, and you just might be disqualified.
This is more like Even Steven. Or Even Stella.
It is all about the weigh in.
Fair competition in women’s freestyle wrestling is contingent upon both wrestlers weighing the same. To compete otherwise would give an unfair advantage to one over the other.
Actually, this thinking spreads across many sports.
In female MMA, you must make your weight to compete. It is that simple.
This became a huge issue for Aspen Ladd.
Aspen Ladd is an American professional mixed martial artist who is competing in the Featherweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). A professional since 2015, Ms. Ladd started her professional mixed martial arts career in Invicta FC before competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Bantamweight division.
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Aspen was scheduled to face Leslie Smith on April 21, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 128.
At the weigh-ins, Ladd weighed in at 137.8 lbs, 1.8 lbs over the bantamweight non-title fight upper limit of 136 lbs. Ladd offered Leslie an additional $5,000 on top of her 20% purse deduction. However, the fight was removed from the card after Smith refused to fight at catch weight.
Major ouch.
Ladd faced Germaine de Randamie on July 13, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 155.
At the weigh-ins for the event on July 12, Ladd attracted media attention for having a noticeably difficult weight cut which included her trembling on the scale and wincing in pain while weighing in.
Another major ouch.
Two strikes.
Aspen was scheduled to face Sara McMann on August 13, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 41.
However, Ladd was tested positive for COVID-19 and she was forced to withdraw from the event, and they were rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 210 on September 17.
At the weigh-ins, Ladd weighed in at 138 pounds, two pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. As a result the bout was scrapped.
After missing weight for the third time in her UFC career leading to a fight cancellation, our rising star was released from the UFC.
You must make your weight.
Fortunately she soon signed with the PFL.
We can see it from Aspen’s point of view as well.
Some of the points that she makes, and very understandable, in her previous scheduling prior to signing with the PFL, she was always on call, sometimes not fighting for four months and then gets contacted and has to be ready in two weeks. Imagine having to lose, say 10 pounds, in a few days. Who would like that?
We personally know of a former female body builder who competed professionally and had wonderful pictures online. She admitted the reason she stopped competing was because making the exact weight required to compete was incredibly hard.
She would soon retire.
Why the weigh in before the fight?
With previous day weigh-ins, it's less likely that a fighter would become dehydrated and fatigued at the time of the fight. It is beneficial for the MMA organizations to have female fighters that have had the chance to put all the water weight back on, as they will put on a better show if they don't get tired and cramp up. Having plenty of fluids is critical in any competitive sport.
You absolutely want to avoid dehydration.
Weigh ins are not going anywhere, anytime soon. Fortunately in competitive female submission wrestling, we don’t have that requirement but female freestyle wrestling will continue to.
TANITA Partners with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) as the Official Wrestling Scale Provider
News provided by
Tanita Corporation of America, Inc.
Jul 19, 2024, 10:00 ET
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., July 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TANITA, a global leader in health monitoring and measurement technology, today announces a new partnership with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) to re-enter as an official wrestling scale provider. This collaboration aims to benefit wrestling coaches and administrators nationwide by providing precise and reliable scales for weight management and tournaments.
The NWCA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been dedicated to supporting and developing scholastic and collegiate wrestling for 95 years. With approximately 15,000 member coaches and over 600 college programs, the NWCA's mission is to develop transformational coaches, strengthen existing wrestling programs, and establish new ones.
"We are proud to partner with such a reputable company as TANITA to be an Official Wrestling Scale Provider for the NWCA. We take our role in representing our members very seriously, and this exciting new agreement allows us to promote an exceptional product to them when they seek a sturdy, reliable scale for their program," said Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director. "We are thrilled to use TANITA Scales at this year's National Duals Championships, where over 2,000 athletes will step on and off them over two days."
"We are excited to partner with the NWCA to provide our precision weighing technology to the wrestling community," said Jeffery Collins, President at TANITA Corporation of America. "Our scales will help streamline the weight management process, reducing errors and saving time for coaches and administrators. We are committed to supporting the NWCA's mission and enhancing the experience for student-wrestlers across the nation."
TANITA's state of the art wrestling scales offer precise measurements, ensuring accuracy and reliability for weight certifications. With FDA-cleared products trusted by professionals worldwide, TANITA continues to set the standard for quality and precision in health monitoring devices, including streamlining the current weight management program with automation in the near future.
For more information about TANITA and its products, please visit www.tanita.com.
About TANITA: TANITA is a global leader in health monitoring and measurement technology, pioneering the development of precision scales and analysis tools. TANITA's professional and consumer products provide accurate data for various health metrics, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability. Committed to advancing health technology, TANITA continually invests in research and development, setting the benchmark for precision in health monitoring devices.
About NWCA: The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of the sport of wrestling, providing coaching development, advocating for student-wrestler well-being, and promoting the growth of wrestling programs at all levels.
SOURCE Tanita Corporation of America, Inc.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspen_Ladd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighing_scale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
