Top MMA promotion brings significant change in weight-miss consequences

Top MMA promotion Professional Fighters League (PFL) has changed its weight-missing rules this season. The league is the first major fighting organization where individual athletes can compete in a regular season, post-season, and championship instead of on a year-round basis.

For the 2023 season, the PFL has reportedly changed its rules concerning fighters who fail to make weight. According to MMA journalist Amy Kaplan, the new law dictates that the weight-missing fighter will now remain eligible to earn points, albeit with a one-point deduction overall.

Kaplan tweeted:

"There was a rule change for the PFL this season. For fighters who miss weight, they get fined 20 percent but are still eligible for points (but will get a -1 point deduction) Last season they were not eligible to earn points. If they lose, they will advance -1 points."

This means that if an MMA fighter who misses weight wins a contest via decision, that fighter will end up with two points instead of the usual three. Three points shall be awarded for the win, but one will be deducted for failing to make weight.

The PFL rules also dictate that the errant fighters will surrender 20% of their purse money to their opponent and take a point penalty. If both fighters miss weight, both will be fined 20% of their purse with a point deduction each.

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MMA weight-miss: What happens when a fighter in the UFC fails to make weight?

Making weight is perhaps one of the essential rules in combat sports and especially in MMA. Given the importance of making weight in MMA, the UFC adheres to strict weight-miss rules.

If a UFC fighter misses weight for a non-title bout, a leeway of one pound is granted, while for title bouts, a fighter cannot weigh more than half a pound over the limit. However, if that is impossible, athletes are granted another hour to cut weight.

If a fighter still fails to make weight, the UFC will generally ask their opponent if they would be willing to fight at a catchweight, agreed upon by both fighters. Fighters at fault will be forced to forfeit a percentage, usually 20%-30%, of their purse money as a penalty.

In a championship bout, fighters who miss weight will lose their title or be ineligible to win it. A weight-miss also makes fighters ineligible for 'Fight of the Night' or 'Performance of the Night' bonuses. The errant fighter will have to surrender his bonus amount to the opponent.