Click Debate: How much will CSAC’s new weight-cutting rules affect future fights?

Urijah Faber was almost about to rule out fighting in his home state a few weeks ago.

When discussing new weight-cutting rules implemented by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), Faber made it seem like his days fighting in the Golden State — at least at 135 pounds — were numbered.

“If it does apply, moving forward, I probably won’t be able to compete, because I cut a lot of weight,” Faber said at a UFC 199 media day.

In February, CSAC passed emergency weight-cutting rules, the most significant of their kind in the nation. CSAC wants to outright ban severe dehydration, which many MMA fighters use to manipulate their weight to reach lower divisions.

Beginning this spring, CSAC weigh-ins will be earlier, beginning at 10 a.m. the day before the fight rather than 4 p.m. to give fighters more time to rehydrate. On-site physicians will be more diligent about categorizing severe dehydration in athletes on weigh-in day and fight day. Specific gravity tests will also be used to test for hydration.

CSAC has said it will pull fighters from cards if they are severely dehydrated, which has drawn concern from the MMA community — from fans to fighters to promoters.

“I think that they’re reacting, but I think the consequences could be impacting, like how do you feel comfortable bringing a title fight here that has to make a certain weight on a certain date?” Bellator MMA president Scott Coker told MMA Fighting earlier this year. “It’s gonna be tough. They have their job to do, but we have our job to do as well.”

Bellator 154 is in San Jose on May 14, but the new CSAC rules will likely not yet be in effect due to a recent alteration. In California, there is a multi-step process to get regulations implemented. It’s not as simple as the commission voting on it like it is in other states.

The new rules should be in place by UFC 199 on June 4 in Los Angeles, according to CSAC executive officer Andy Foster. That card has two title fights. Luke Rockhold will defend his middleweight belt against Chris …

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