By now everyone knows that Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos had difficulty making weight for her Strikeforce debut a few weeks ago. She had a fight against Hitomi Akano at an agreed weight limit of 145-lbs., which is big for most female fighters but necessary to find a credible opponent for Santos. Santos stepped onto the scale at the scheduled time and weighed about 152-lbs on her first attempt. She was then given a few hours to shed the extra weight. So here is where things get strange. Santos had until 8pm to make weight. At 6pm her camp contacted everyone and said she was ready. So they gathered at the hotel and Santos got on the scale, weighing slightly over 150-lbs, wearing a bikini. Then she stepped off the scale and told everyone she wanted to take the bikini off, meaning everyone get the fug out. The room cleared, including the commission rep, leaving Santos and her husband in the room alone for a few moments while the rest of them decided who to send in. The commission sent a female staff member back into the room with a member from Akano's camp. Santos was naked and the scale read 144-lbs. Akano's manager, Shu Hirata, immediately knew something was up and started complaining. Santos claimed her bikini weighed six pounds. Hirata rightfully declared shenanigans on them and demanded the scale be recalibrated. Santos got back on the scale, sans bikini, and weighed slightly over 150-lbs again. Hirata and Akano decided to cancel the fight. In the end Hirata, Akano, Barnett, and the rest of her camp decided to take the fight anyways. It meant more to them to fight at a disadvantage and possibly lose, than to not have the fight, not get paid, and lose the chance for exposure. Akano was beaten badly in the fight. Santos would later blame the weight cutting issue on her period, and has seemed offended that anyone would criticize her for missing weight.
She should be fined for that. It is just straight up disrespectful coming in that much over. I don't like that manly woman.
Well that's the thing... Cyborg and Carano rule the roost right now. If you want to fight on TV, you have to fight one of them. It gives them the ability to come in overweight without (significant) repercussions. They know the opponent will eventually take the fight. If they ever do get Cyborg and Carano to fight, hopefully it will be at 150-lbs.. Somewhere out there Tara LaRosa is being a professional and getting no publicity.
Yes, why do the woman who act professional get washed over by the male controllers of MMA? You'd think these guys would want women like LaRosa, Tate, n Kaufman setting the examples for fans and future fighters. It's crap that the women at the top act so unprofessional when there are actually BETTER fighters out there who DO act pro but are unable to get the fights because of the guys controlling behind the scene. It's crap!! jUST CRAP!!
Nice to see somebody join the site for a reason! LOL! Saying "female problems" can get a girl out of anything. It instantly quashes anything the guy might say. His immediate response is always to accept the answer and cut off that conversation ASAP.
I'd say it's because Woman's MMA is still in it's infancy as far as having a large fanbase, having enough top shelf fighters to create a bunch of weight classes and having enough woman who are a ratings/ticket draw. Eventually more female fighters will be built up as attractions and equity will tilt a little closer to the middle. the issus prevails in all female sports as men will always been seen as being bigger, tougher and more athletic/exciting.
Also, is it me, or do all the girls Josh Barnett corner's lose? And they all happen to be grapplers with no striking and limited cardio?
bad bad bad. Definitely should have been fined for that. Or at least given some of her purse to Akano. Messing with the scale to make weight? Cheat. Bottomline.
