Will Fighters Start Taking Mounjaro To Cut Weight?

The world of combat sports has always been shaped by weight cuts. Fighters push their bodies to extremes to make weight, often relying on dehydration, extreme dieting, or last-minute sauna sessions. With the rise of powerful weight-loss injections like Mounjaro, a new question has emerged: will fighters begin using these drugs to cut weight more easily?

What is Mounjaro?

Mounjaro, a tirzepatide-based medication originally designed for diabetes and later approved for weight-management, has exploded in popularity across the UK. Demand has surged because of its strong appetite-suppressing effects and dramatic weight-loss outcomes. But this rapid rise brings concerns, especially within a sport where performance, health, and safety are already under constant pressure. The idea of using Mounjaro for weight-cutting may seem tempting, but the reality is far more complicated and potentially dangerous.

Why fighters might consider it

Mounjaro is currently not named as a banned substance on the 2025 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list, which is the standard followed by most professional boxing organisations, so fighters could use if they wanted to.

Also, as fighters are always searching for an advantage during camp, and controlling weight is one of the hardest battles, mounjaro could be appealing to them. This is because Mounjaro reduces hunger, slows digestion, and keeps people feeling full for long periods, some athletes may look at it as a shortcut to staying lean or dropping weight classes.

In the UK, its use has grown far beyond medical necessity, with many people acquiring it through private clinics or off-label channels. This makes it more accessible to athletes than ever before. In a sport where even two or three pounds can change a fight purse, the temptation will inevitably cross the minds of some competitors. But convenience doesn’t guarantee safety, and the risks are significant.

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The dangers and side-effects fighters must consider

Cutting weight is already one of the most dangerous practices in combat sports, and adding a powerful drug meant for long-term weight management only increases the risk. Mounjaro commonly causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach discomfort, dizziness and fatigue — symptoms that are disastrous for a fighter deep into camp or approaching fight week.

More serious dangers include pancreatitis, gallbladder inflammation, severe gastrointestinal slowing that can resemble stomach paralysis, and dangerous drops in blood sugar. For fighters who already manipulate their diet and hydration aggressively, these effects can become life-threatening.

There have also been worrying increases in misuse throughout the UK, including black-market versions that may contain unknown ingredients or incorrect dosages. For an athlete whose career depends on their body functioning at its peak, the margin for error is almost zero.

Will fighters actually start using it?

Some will — especially at lower levels of the sport where medical oversight is minimal and pressures to make weight are high. But widespread adoption is unlikely, at least for now. The drug is not designed for rapid weight cuts, its side-effects can destroy fight-camp performance, and governing bodies may eventually crack down if misuse becomes common.

Weight-cutting will always remain part of combat sports, but relying on a medication meant for chronic medical conditions is an extreme and risky path. The safer approach remains proper nutrition, planned weight management, and supervision from qualified professionals. Mounjaro might seem like a shortcut, but for fighters, it is far more likely to create new problems than solve old ones.