Charles Oliveira is no longer the UFC lightweight champion after losing the battle with the scale.
“Do Bronx” failed to make championship weight for his scheduled UFC 274 main event title defense against Justin Gaethje, coming in at 155.5 pounds on two separate attempts, half a pound over the limit. Shortly after his second attempt, it was announced that the lightweight title is vacated and only Gaethje is eligible to win it Saturday.
This is not the first time that Oliveira has had difficulty at the scale, though his previous misses came when he was competing as a featherweight. Oliveira — The No. 1 fighter at 155 pounds in MMA Fighting’s Global Rankings — has won 10 straight fights at lightweight, capturing the UFC title with a TKO win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 and then successfully defending it against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269.
Poirier was one of several fighters who took to social media to comment on the situation, with some criticizing the now-former champion and others questioning whether there could have been a technical error.
I was thinking Charles wins but I don't know now....crazy https://t.co/t9NG2M0Bor
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 6, 2022
Might effect his durability... https://t.co/AU1b2cLsvg
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 6, 2022
Wonder if he still wants to fight at 145. I have nothing against the champ. But this is a disgrace. And I honestly feel most for Justin. What an absolute let down for everyone in the division. #sadday
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) May 6, 2022
Big Drama
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 6, 2022
Anyway, keep your head up Charles and good luck tomorrow, we all know you’re champ for a reason. And I’m looking to fight the winner of this fight, either for vacant title or new LW champion
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) May 6, 2022
Congratulations to the dumb fuck that messed up the scale for weigh ins this am. Now we got a real problem.
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) May 6, 2022
Congrats to the “genius” that messed with the fighter’s scale leaving it with a 0.5lb difference. We only found out when we were informed as we were coming down to check our official Weight. Luckly I was under so that didnt hurt me.
— Ariane “Sorriso” Carnelossi (@ArianeSorrisoo) May 6, 2022
If the scale being heavy is true that cannot happen! Unfortunate turn at UFC 274!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 6, 2022
Making weight is always hard. But thinking you’re on weight, then missing weight, just to have to go lose more weight after you’ve lost your initial sweat is a living nightmare both physically and mentally. #ufc274
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) May 6, 2022
Only time missing weight is somewhat okay is for a short notice fight don’t wanna be hard on the champ but you gotta do better than that bro #UFC274
— Sean BRADY (@seanbradymma) May 6, 2022
Crazy https://t.co/UwKOLwvAjJ
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) May 6, 2022
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LIVE! Watch UFC 289 PPV On ESPN+ Here!
OCTAGON RETURNS TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to Canada for the first time in almost four years when it hosts UFC 289 inside Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sat., June 10, 2023. In UFC 289’s pay-per-view (PPV) main event, women’s Bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes, will lock horns with No. 5-ranked 135-pound contender, Irene Aldana, while former Lightweight kingpin and current No. 1-seeded contender, Charles Oliveira, battles No. 4-ranked Beneil Dariush in the co-feature with 155-pound title implications on the line.
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