ONE Fighter Yang Jian Bing Dies From Weight Cutting Complications

Mixed martial arts has been struck by the second high profile weight cutting death in recent memory, as Chinese flyweight Yang Jian Bing passed away earlier today in Pasay, Philippines. He was scheduled to fight Geje Eustaquio today for ONE Championship (formerly ONE FC), the biggest promotion in Asia. Yesterday, ONE had released a statement saying that the fight had been cancelled “due to Yang’s severe dehydration from attempting to make weight. Yang Jian Bing has suffered from dehydration and suspected heat stroke. He has been transported to the hospital where he is undergoing intensive rehydration treatment.”

Two years ago, Leandro Souza died before a weigh-in for a Shooto Brazil card. It was reported that he had taken Lasix, a banned diuretic, to assist in aiding an extreme weight cut, as he took the fight on a week’s notice and had to lose 33 pounds in that time span to make weight. There was a lot of criticism on Shooto Brazil promoter Andre Pederneiras for that one. Not only did he deny that the weight cut caused Souza’s stroke, but he was also Souza’s coach at Nova Uniao and should have looked out for him. Nova Uniao has come under heavy criticism for having a bad handle on weight cutting in general.

As for Yang Jian Bing, ONE released the following statement:

The ONE Championship (ONE) family suffered a tragic loss when Chinese flyweight Yang Jian Bing passed away on 11 December 2015 at 12.06 PM due to cardiopulmonary failure. The formal hospital medical reports and procedures are still being carried out. He was 21 years old.

Yang, a native of China was hospitalized at the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay, Philippines, after a sudden collapse on the morning of 10 December 2015.

At the hospital, Yang received the best medical care possible while ONE officials continuously updated his family directly from his hospital bedside.

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui said, “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.”

Cui added, “I want to thank all sports fans around the world for their concern, thoughts and prayers. At this time, we appreciate everyone respecting the Yang family’s privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved son and brother.”