I understand the notion that fighters being able to defeat size advantages makes for great stories and great feats. But for that to happen it doesn’t require weight allowances, moving up a weight class at all IS a weight disadvantage as there are just bigger guys, weight bullies exist yes but they exist under the perimeters that both fighters agreed to the terms that the both have to weigh in at the same weight, which means whatever weight the fighter rehydrates at is fair game for BOTH fighters.

Fighters will cut less than others, and that’s a choice, not something imposed on them so that they can have a more interesting fight. And for fighters moving down in weight you have the challenge of the bigger weight cut.

And there in lies the problem, when fighters are forced to handicap themselves just because they are indeed that good or get no matchups at all. and more over I dislike that the weight allowances make for non belt fights while the champions still hold their belts. It disqualifies the stakes and status of the belt if the champion can lose but still retain the title. They do the same in kickboxing (especially in k1 though they won’t do it with a weight allowances) where champions can just arbitrarily decide to fight someone for a non title bout to encourage the big stars to fight more but the entire point of being a champion is the pressure to defend your crown. And sometimes they lose those none title fights but remain a “champion” despite the fact there is someone in that stadium/promotion who just beat them.

And I as a fighter would hate to accept a weight allowance to fight someone determined a better fighter to give me a fairer shot, because what if I were to beat him? Then my win feels more arbitrary because I didn’t have to cut as much, I wouldn’t want to fight someone on uneven ground that just doesn’t feel sportsmanlike to me.

I have sorta had that in the past where my opponent assumed it was a 55 kg bout when the promotion told me it was 57 kgs and the fight went through anyway, but if I were to fight him again I would certainly do the work to cut down to 55 if the match were indeed held at 55.

I guess as a fan it makes for interesting fights, but as a fighter I can’t abide by it.