How Josh Burkman lost '18 pounds in 24 hours' for lightweight debut

LAS VEGAS – Weight-cutting is currently a hot-button topic in MMA, and Josh Burkman went through a tumultuous one for his UFC Fight Night 82 showdown with K.J. Noons on Saturday.

According to Burkman (28-12 MMA, 6-7 UFC), who defeated Noons (13-9 MMA, 2-3 UFC) by unanimous decision on Saturday at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, he lost 18 pounds in 24 hours prior to weigh-ins to make the lightweight limit for the first time.

Burkman had never fought lighter than welterweight, but three winless octagon appearances after returning to the promotion in January 2015 caused him to make a change. The process to get there hardly sounded healthy.

“The weight cut was really tough on me,” Burkman told MMAjunkie. “It didn’t come off like I thought it would early enough. I got to Vegas at 175 pounds, and that didn’t move until the day before I had to weigh in. So I basically had to lose 18 pounds in 24 hours from Thursday night to Friday afternoon.

“I was cutting weight all the way until I had to weigh-in. I recovered good, but I could feel I was a little heavy from the weight cut. It’s something I’ll be able to critique and something I’ll be able to take the positives from and get better.”

Despite the trying nature of the weight cut, Burkman said he plans to remain at 155 pounds.

Burkman said he had moments when his body felt like it couldn’t handle the cut, but he ultimately got through it. What was the cost? It’s difficult to say, but Burkman said he’s going to alter the process in hopes of an easier cut next time.

“Once it was over and I started to hydrate and feel better, I knew I was all right,” Burkman said. “It was an intense weight cut, and it’s something I can get better at. I expect to have better performances as I figure it out. Three weeks ago I was 190 pounds, so that’s a hell of a weight cut.

“I put on over 25 pounds (after weigh-ins). I went all the way up to 180, so I think taking that kind of weight off and putting it back on, that’s 50 pounds of changes within a 24-hour period. I think I can do a little bit better figuring that out. I think that little bit of extra weight helped against K.J.”

Burkman will know the physical costs of such a significant weight cut only in the future. In the short-term, though, the change in division resulted in his first UFC victory since October 2007. “The People’s Warrior” was winless in his previous six UFC appearances, but he said the reward of victory made everything else before more than worth it.

“It feels really nice,” he said. “It’s been a long time since I got a win in the UFC. To drop weight class and try to start something new, it’s a big deal. Last year was a tough year, probably the toughest in my career with three losses to three tough opponents. Dropping that weight, coming in and getting a win against someone like K.J. Noons, it’s a big deal.”

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