A highly-anticipated Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight scheduled for Saturday hit a roadblock as fighter Nguyen Cong Dung was found to have exceeded the weight limit by a staggering 10.3 kg in the 65 kg category, leading to the cancellation of the match against opponent Pham Duc Thang.
The weigh-in conducted by Lion Championship organizers on Friday morning revealed Dung’s weight discrepancy, prompting strong reactions from the event organizers, who denounced the act as disrespectful and disruptive to the tournament schedule and Thang’s preparation.
Nguyen Cong Dung, representing Kpark Kickfit & Warrior Muay, faces potential penalties from the Vietnam Mixed Martial Arts Federation for the breach. The incident marks the first time in 22 Lion Championship events that a fighter has surpassed the weight limit by such a significant margin.
The fallout from Dung’s weight issue has been swift, with the fighter taking the step of locking his personal Facebook page in response to the controversy. Meanwhile, Pham Duc Thang expressed disappointment after undergoing a grueling weight-cutting process to meet the requirements for the fight.
As both Dung and Thang are newcomers to Lion Championship, the incident has stirred up criticism within the MMA community. Pham Van Nam, a titleholder in the 56 kg category, voiced his disapproval, highlighting the importance of adhering to weight restrictions out of respect for fellow competitors, organizers, and spectators.
Lion Championship’s regulations dictate strict consequences for weight limit violations, with penalties escalating based on the extent of the breach. Fighters exceeding the limit by more than 2.5 kg face fines, potential bans, and other sanctions as outlined in their contracts.
To prevent such incidents, Lion Championship has implemented a monitoring system requiring fighters to submit weekly weight reports leading up to the match, with additional weight checks conducted 10 days and one day before the fight to ensure compliance.
Notable cases of weight management challenges in MMA include Pham Ngoc Canh’s weight excess at LC 5 and Belarusian fighter Zakhar Dzmitrychenka’s drastic weight cut ahead of LC 22, underscoring the physical demands and discipline required of fighters in the sport.
Despite the setback, LC 22 MMA event is set to proceed at the Tay Ho Gymnasium in Hanoi, showcasing the resilience and dedication of fighters like Pham Duc Thang, who have overcome obstacles to compete at the highest level of professional MMA in Vietnam.