Things got somewhat chaotic during the official weigh-ins leading up to the UFC’s first Fight Night event of the year.
This Saturday, Premier Promotions will return to Meta Apex to host UFC Vegas 113, marking the inaugural Fight Night under the UFC’s new partnership with Paramount.
The main event features a bantamweight clash between Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira, with both fighters aiming to position themselves as contenders for the 135-pound title.
While all attention was on “Rock Dog” at the weigh-in, it was actually the other four fighters who stirred up the most disruption.
Four fighters fail to make weight ahead of UFC Vegas 113
During the week, Oliveira disclosed that he would begin his training camp over 50 pounds above the bantamweight limit of 136 pounds.
Still, at Friday’s weigh-in, he hit exactly 136 pounds, and Bautista weighed in close behind at 135.5 pounds.
However, several significant weigh-in issues before the event threw the entire process into disarray.
Muin Gafurov, expected to face Jakub Viklač in a bantamweight bout, stepped on the scale at 141 pounds, five pounds over the limit.
Thankfully, Viklač agreed to proceed with the fight and will receive 25% of Gafurov’s purse as compensation.
Gianni Vazquez also missed the bantamweight limit, weighing in at 141 pounds ahead of his debut against Javid Basharat.
Despite his late call-up, Vazquez will surrender 25% of his fight purse to his opponent.
In the women’s flyweight division, Wang Kong and Eduarda Moura were set to fight at 125 pounds, but both missed weight, coming in at 127 and 127.5 pounds, respectively. Their fines essentially cancel each other out, and as a result, neither fighter will be eligible for post-fight bonuses.
Fan Take: This drama at the weigh-ins highlights the ongoing challenges fighters face in meeting weight requirements, which can dramatically impact matchups and purse distribution. For fans, it adds an unpredictable layer to the sport, reminding us that the road to a showdown isn’t always smooth and that fight night outcomes can hinge on more than just skill inside the Octagon.
