Exercise Scientist Critiques Paddy The Baddy

TL;DR

Dr. Mike Israetel breaks down Paddy Pimblett's 50-pound weight cut from 205 to 155 lbs, explaining the science and dangers behind each phase.

Key Points

• 1.Paddy's 50-lb cut is mostly water, not tissue. He started at 205 lbs and cut to 155 lbs — roughly 30 lbs was fat/muscle loss over camp, with the final 15+ lbs being water manipulation in the final days.
• 2.Paddy floats to 200+ lbs outside fight camp because restricting food causes him stress. Dr. Mike explains some fighters prefer staying lean year-round, while others like Paddy eat freely and accept a harder fight-camp diet at ~2,000 calories vs. ~3,000 burned, creating a 1,000-calorie daily deficit.
• 3.Cutting carbs before weigh-in is scientifically sound. Each gram of glycogen binds ~3g of water, so eliminating carbs causes the body to shed large amounts of water rapidly — the same mechanism behind early keto weight loss.
• 4.Water cuts above 7% of body weight carry real health risks. Risks include passing out in the sauna, dangerous electrolyte imbalances, cardiac arrhythmias, and in rare cases death; Dr. Mike stresses never cutting water alone without a handler present.
• 5.Weight cutting is inappropriate for youth athletes. Chronic cutting in middle and high school stunts height growth, impairs brain development, and builds no lasting benefit — Dr. Mike recommends against it until age 18.
• 6.Dr. Mike rates Paddy's professionalism highly. Despite the grueling process — cold stares in the tub, 2,000-calorie days, intense training — Paddy hit 157 lbs calmly and energetically, earning praise for locking in mentally when it counts.