Not slandering Dolce, I disagree with his methods. Dropping water was also a strategy in high school wrestling in the 50's through today but todays high school wrestling programs require hydration testing prior to a meet. Fighters who drop that much water are also at a strength AND conditioning disadvantage especially since muscle is 65-70% water..even when they start re-hydrating immediately after weigh-ins and the fight is the next night it's almost impossible to fully recover from that much trauma (yes, trauma) let alone regain full strength as well as his CNS. I don't want my fighters being any heavier than 10lbs over after weigh-in's to the time he steps in the octagon. 1. He's at full strength without suffering his conditioning because his CNS is still intact, he's quicker with more power because his body isn't all fucked up from the shock (yes, shock) of eating and dehydrating and digesting, IV's, etc.
Now, thank you for your honest reply. Fair enough.
I do agree that cutting 20+ lbs is ridiculous, but that is where Dolce comes in.
From all fighters accounts, he reduces the trauma that you are referring to.
Also, sometimes the weight advantage is better than the small disadvantages they feel from cutting. It is up to the individual.
When someone flat out doesn't diet, and has to rush weigh loss (Rampage) is where a problem occurs. Chael was purposely 20lbs over. It's not like he wasn't dieting in the weeks prior.