Podbit · The Joe Rogan Experience
Almost every boxing death in the last 10–15 years happens after round 9, often to fighters who are winning and not taking much damage. Wittman believes chronically dehydrating the brain through extreme weight cuts may be cracking the brain like dried lips, creating lethal vulnerability late in fights.
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At 1:19:05 · chapter starts 1:16:00
Rogan raises the question of whether Topuria will stay at 155 or go back down to featherweight, noting that Topuria is a smaller body while Gaethje is considerably larger. Gaethje reveals he was 183 in the Paddy fight and 184 lbs going to bed the night before the title fight, waking at 176 — that's how much water the body sheds overnight after a cut. [1] — Justin Gaethje "Fight weight: 184 lbs on Saturday, 176 lbs fight morning: Gaethje weighed 184 lbs when he went to bed on Saturday and woke at approximately…" 1:16:36 Wittman raises the coaching concern: for fighters who struggle to make weight, the risk of being dropped by a jab from a dehydrated brain is terrifyingly real. Rogan asks whether more weight classes are needed. Gaethje, as an athlete, says he wants nothing changed — grown men and women make their own choices. Wittman is more measured, suggesting weight measurement could move earlier in the week to allow proper recovery, rather than the current same-day or next-day weigh-ins.
Gaethje weighed 184 lbs when he went to bed on Saturday and woke at approximately 176 lbs fight morning due to fluid loss, showing how much water the body sheds overnight after a cut.
Trevor Wittman's research found that almost all boxing deaths in the last 10–15 years happen after the 9th round, which he links to dehydration from weight cutting weakening the brain.
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