EXCLUSIVE | Stephen Thompson shares his take on why so many fighters miss weight

Former tow-time UFC welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson (14-3-1 MMA) has an interesting theory on why so many fighters continue to miss weight.

“Wonderboy” believes that fighters who miss weight for the most part are just being lazy.

In a recent interview with BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor, Stephen Thompson revealed some creative ideas which he feels would help inspire the promotions fighters to make weight.

“I know Dana White was saying they wanted to go back to the 4 or 5 o’clock official weigh ins? My response to that would be ‘heck no’ man. During my last weight cut I was thinking how did I ever get through half of a day being down at 170. Not just a half a day but Thursday night and then you would have to keep that weight all the way up until like four or five o’clock the next day. I mean to have less time to rehydrate is just plain stupid. People are just being lazy. People just aren’t making weight because they know they can get away with it. It’s like yeah ok I have to forfeit twenty percent of my purse, but if I win I will move up the rankings and probably get paid more for my next fight. You know? The consequences just aren’t enough. It’s allowing people to get away with some major bullcrap. If the UFC implemented stricter penalties, like the fight doesn’t happen, or you have to give your opponent half of your purse, or you can’t move up the rankings if you miss weight, then I believe more people would be inclined to follow the rules.”

Taylor asked Thompson if he believes that the fighters should get to vote on whether or not the UFC should be allowed to bring back the old style of weigh ins.

“From what I’ve seen on social media, all of the fighters have made it pretty clear that they don’t want to go back to the old afternoon weigh ins. So I don’t know why they (the UFC) are still planning on doing that. I think it will eventually cause athletic commissions to cancel more fights. I mean look at Yoel Romero from UFC 225, there is no way he would have been allowed to fight had those weigh ins taken place at 4 or 5pm. No chance. That fight would have been called off for sure.”

What do you think of Stephen Thompson’s ideas regarding harsher penalties for fighters who miss weight? Sound off PENN Nation!