The UFC 324 weigh-in proved to be one of the most chaotic events MMA enthusiasts have witnessed. Paddy Pimblett went first, easily stepping on the scale at 154 pounds for Saturday night’s interim lightweight championship bout. Justin Gaethje was the last to weigh in, hitting the 155-pound limit to officially set the main event.
The real drama unfolded on Friday during the undercard weigh-ins. Cameron Smotherman collapsed face-first after making weight and was promptly taken off the stage, leading to the cancellation of his bantamweight fight against Ricky Turcios. Additionally, Alex Perez missed the flyweight limit by 2.5 pounds but will still compete against Charles Johnson after accepting a fine. Similarly, former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo also weighed in 2.5 pounds over the bantamweight threshold but remains scheduled to fight Umar Nurmagomedov, having agreed to a fine as well.
This event has sparked a conversation about whether the UFC should ban weight cutting altogether, especially after seeing the dangers firsthand. Fans are encouraged to join the discussion and share their thoughts on the matter.
In other UFC 324 weigh-in results, Sean O’Malley weighed 135.5 pounds against Song Yadong’s 136, while Derrick Lewis tipped the scales at 263.5 pounds, just over Waldo Cortez-Acosta’s 262. Fighters like Rose Namajunas, Arnold Allen, and others all successfully made weight. However, the fines for Perez and Figueiredo underline ongoing struggles with weight management within the promotion.
UFC 324 Weigh-in Results:
- Justin Gaethje (155) vs. Paddy Pimblett (154) – Interim Lightweight Title
- Sean O’Malley (135.5) vs. Song Yadong (136)
- Waldo Cortez-Acosta (262) vs. Derrick Lewis (263.5)
- Rose Namajunas (125.5) vs. Natalia Silva (126)
- Arnold Allen (145.5) vs. Jean Silva (146)
- Deiveson Figueiredo (138.5)* vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (136)
- Ateva Gauthier (186) vs. Andrei Plyaev (186)
- Modestas Bukauskas (204) vs. Nikita Krylov (205.5)
- Charles Johnson (126) vs. Alex Perez (128.5)**
- Alexander Hernandez (155.5) vs. Michael Johnson (156)
- Denzel Freeman (257.5) vs. Josh Hokit (234.5)
- Cameron Smotherman (135.5)*** vs. Ricky Turcios (136)
- Adam Fugit (171) vs. Ty Miller (170)
Figueiredo will be fined 25% of his purse for missing the bantamweight limit.
Perez faces the same penalty for missing flyweight.
Smotherman fainted after the weigh-in, resulting in his fight’s cancellation.
Fan Take:
This weigh-in chaos highlights the physical risks fighters take to make weight and raises important questions about the safety and fairness of current weight-cutting practices. For fans and the sport’s future, it’s a critical moment to push for reforms that protect athletes while maintaining the integrity of competition.
