What is the rehydration clause?

A rehydration clause is a clause that can be included in a contract for a professional boxing or mixed martial arts fight. This clause typically stipulates that the fighter cannot exceed a certain weight limit when they weigh in for the fight, and also cannot gain more than a certain amount of weight back after rehydrating before the fight.

The purpose of a rehydration clause is to prevent fighters from gaining an unfair advantage by dehydrating themselves to make weight, and then rehydrating to a significantly higher weight on fight day. This practice, known as weight cutting, can be dangerous for the fighter and can also create mismatches in the fight.

Rehydration clauses have become more common in combat sports in recent years as a way to promote fighter safety and ensure fair competition. Fighters who violate a rehydration clause can face penalties such as fines, suspensions, or the cancellation of the fight.