UFC adopting early weigh-in procedure for UFC Fight Night 89

It's back by popular demand.

After a successful first attempt before UFC 199, fighters will once again be able to weigh-in early this weekend at UFC Fight Night: MacDonald vs. Thompson in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, UFC senior vice president of public relations Dave Sholler confirmed with MMA Fighting on Monday. Ontario athletics commissioner Ken Hayashi did not return a phone call for comment.

Fighters will be able to weigh-in at the fighter hotel Friday morning between 9 a.m. and noon, rather than the typical 4 p.m. weigh-in time, Sholler said. There will still be a "weigh-in" show at 5 p.m. where the official weights gathered earlier in the day will be announced.

The new policy was first attempted by the UFC at UFC 199 in Los Angeles two weeks ago. Fighters were able to weigh-in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the fighter hotel. The idea, developed by doctors, is to give the athletes more time to rehydrate after their weight cut. A byproduct is now fighters will be dehydrated for a shorter amount of time -- and going without food and water for a shorter amount of time -- rather than waiting hours to be transported to the venue and for the weigh-in show to begin.

Fighters supported this California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) policy so much that UFC officials are discussing whether or not to make it permanent. The early weigh-in has also been utilized for Bellator MMA shows in Kansas and at Mohegan Sun.

"The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, so we are having ongoing discussions with commissions across the world about this option moving forward," Sholler told MMA Fighting.

Indeed, fighters were unanimous before UFC 199 that moving up the weigh-in was a good and healthier thing.

"This is 100 times better," UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz said after making weight.

For more on the CSAC weight policies, click here. Reaction to how the first UFC early weigh-in worked out is here.

UFC Fight Night 89 is headlined by welterweight contender bout between Rory MacDonald and Stephen Thompson. In the co-main event, Donald Cerrone faces Patrick Cote.