OneFC fighter die from severe dehydration and heatstroke after trying to make weight

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

SINGAPORE: Yang Jian Bing, a 21-year-old Chinese fighter due to compete in a One Championship event in Manila died on Friday (Dec 11) due to heart failure.
The Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion said in a statement issued on Friday evening that formal hospital medical reports and procedures are still being carried out. It said he was hospitalised at the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay, Philippines, after a sudden collapse on Thursday morning.

Yang was due to take on the Philippines' Geje Eustaquio in a 3-round flyweight bout. The fight did not materialise after Yang was rushed to the hospital on Thursday afternoon, before his official weigh-ins.

CEO One Championship, Victor Cui said in the statement: “There is nothing more profoundly tragic and sad than when a member of the ONE Championship family, current or past, passes away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Yang Jian Bing.

“We will work closely with the family and offer all the support they need in any way we can during this very difficult time.”

A notice on the One Championship website on Thursday said the bout between Yang and Eustaquio was cancelled "due to Yang’s severe dehydration from attempting to make weight". It added that he suffered from suspected heat stroke and had undergone intensive rehydration treatment at the hospital.

Professional fighters typically dehydrate themselves a day before the match to cut weight, in order to fight within a specific weight class. This is believed to be the first death in Asia related to a MMA weight cut.

Reacting to Yang's death, Arvind Lalwani, MMA coach and owner of Singaporean gym Juggernaut Fight Club said: "It's the duty of the team to check if the fighter is alright and can make weight. If you have a team which doesn't care about the fighter and all they care about is forcing the fighter to fight and to make a weight he can't, then these are the consequences. I don't know what are the causes so I only can assume.

"But condolences to the family of Yang Jian Bing. I'm very shocked and saddened to hear this."

- CNA/xk


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