Fighter Interviews: What to Ask, What to Skip, and Why I Ask About Weight Cuts

As an editor who's spent years covering MMA, I get asked the same thing over and over: "What do you really ask a fighter in an interview?" Not the canned "How do you feel about Saturday night?" stuff—the real stuff that tells you something about the sport. So here's my honest answer, shaped by the facts and a strong opinion: stop asking about the fight, start asking about the weight cut, the rules, and the history that shaped this bizarre, beautiful sport.

Why do you always ask about the weight cut?

Because it's the most dangerous part of the sport, and we pretend it's not. A study of UK MMA athletes found they lost about 8% of their body weight in the week before competition, and 57% were dehydrated at the official weigh-in (PubMed, Rapid Weight Loss UK MMA). That's not a small number—that's a medical red flag. I ask every fighter about their cut because the answer tells me more about their preparation than any "I'm ready" platitude. And here's the kicker: a survey of combat athletes found 60–70% said their concussion symptoms worsened when they underwent rapid weight loss (PubMed, Rapid Weight Loss Concussion). So when a fighter says "I felt fine cutting weight," I know they're lying or lucky.

What's the biggest myth about fighter interviews?

That you need to ask about the fight itself. The fight is the least interesting part. Everyone asks "What's your game plan?" and the fighter says "I'm going to stick to my game plan." That's not an interview—that's a press release. I've learned to ask about the rules instead. For example, the 12-to-6 elbow rule was banned for years, and it famously cost Jon Jones his only loss in 2009 (ESPN, 12-6 elbow rule). But in 2024, the Association of Boxing Commissions removed that ban (ESPN, 12-6 elbow rule). Ask a fighter how that changes their training—you'll get a real answer, not a cliché.

How do you get a fighter to open up?

You ask about the history. The sport is young—UFC 1 was in 1993, an eight-man tournament with no weight classes, no judges, and no time limits (UFC). Royce Gracie won that night with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, submitting three guys in under five minutes total (UFC). If I ask a fighter "What does Royce Gracie mean to you?" I get a story, not a soundbite. The same goes for asking about the evolution of weight classes—there are now 14 under the Unified Rules (Unified Rules of MMA). That's a concrete fact that opens a door to talk about how the sport has changed, and fighters love to talk about that.

What do you never ask in an interview?

I never ask "What do you think of your opponent?" That's a trap, and it's boring. Instead, I ask about the weight class itself. For example, the strawweight division is up to 115 lb, and flyweight is 115 to 125 lb (Unified Rules of MMA). If I'm interviewing a strawweight, I ask "How hard is it to make 115?" That gets me a real answer about the cut. And I never ask about "the best fighter of all time"—that's a barstool debate, not journalism. But I will ask about records: Anderson Silva held the middleweight title for 6 years 265 days (Guinness World Records). That's a number that makes a fighter's eyes light up.

Is it okay to ask about injuries and concussions?

You have to, but you have to be careful. The research is clear: head trauma accounts for 58–78% of all injuries in MMA (PubMed, MMA Head Injury Review), and MMA athletes experience concussions more than athletes in other sports (PubMed, MMA Concussion Review). That's not a secret. So I ask, "How do you manage the head trauma risk?" Not "Are you scared?"—that's insulting. I ask about their approach to recovery. Most fighters are honest about it, and it's the most important interview question you can ask. Also, I ask about the weight cut's effect on the brain, because that's the hidden danger.

What should a fan ask when they meet a fighter?

If you're a fan and you get one question, ask about the weight cut. It's the great equalizer. But if you want to sound smart, ask about the rules. For example, the Unified Rules list fouls like eye gouging and head butting (New Jersey State Athletic Control Board). But did you know the 12-to-6 elbow was banned until recently? That's a great conversation starter. And if you really want to impress, ask about the Octagon: it's 30 feet across inside, with a fence 5 feet 9 inches high (UFC Official Octagon). That's not a question—it's a fact that shows you care.

Sources

• Unified Rules of MMA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_martial_arts
• UFC - https://www.ufc.com
• PubMed (Rapid Weight Loss UK MMA) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27710145/
• PubMed (Rapid Weight Loss Concussion) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35325898/
• ESPN (12-6 elbow rule) - https://www.espn.com.au/mma/story/_/id/40627706/abc-votes-remove-12-6-elbow-ban-redefines-grounded-opponent
• Guinness World Records - https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/488262-longest-reigning-ufc-champion