Jose Aldo faced a tough moment at the UFC 315 weigh-ins on May 9, 2025, when his struggle to hit the bantamweight limit forced a last-minute change. His clash with Aiemann Zahabi, set for 135 pounds, shifted to featherweight at 145 pounds after he tipped the scale at 143 pounds.
Aldo, a former UFC featherweight champion with a 32-9 record, looked drained on the scale. A doctor advised him to stop cutting weight on Thursday night, as he was nine pounds over the bantamweight mark. The UFC acted quickly to save the main card bout, set for May 10 at Bell Centre in Montreal.
Zahabi, a Montreal native with a 12-2 record, weighed in at 142 pounds, just 0.8 pounds shy of bantamweight when told to halt his cut. He renegotiated his contract with the UFC, saying, “We renegotiated, they gave me an offer that I accepted, and the fight’s on,” ensuring the matchup proceeded.
Aldo’s return to featherweight, where he reigned from 2009 to 2015, marks his first fight at 145 pounds since 2019. He moved to bantamweight after losses to Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, going 3-3 before a brief retirement in 2022.
The UFC 315 main event features welterweight champion Belal Muhammad at 170 pounds against Jack Della Maddalena, also at 170 pounds. Both fighters hit their marks cleanly, setting up a five-round battle.
In the co-main event, flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko weighed 124 pounds, while challenger Manon Fiorot hit 125 pounds. Their championship showdown promises a high-stakes clash.
Alexa Grasso and Natalia Silva, both at 126 pounds, made weight for their flyweight bout. Benoit Saint Denis and Kyle Prepolec also hit 156 pounds for their lightweight matchup, rounding out a solid main card.
UFC 315, the promotion’s first Montreal event in a decade, airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET. The card showcases local talent like Zahabi and prelim fighter Mike Malott, who made 171 pounds.
Weigh-In Woes Test UFC 315 Fighters
Not all fighters escaped weigh-in drama, as middleweight Bruno Silva missed the 186-pound limit, coming in at 187 pounds. He forfeited 20 percent of his purse, but his prelim bout with Marc-Andre Barriault, who hit 185 pounds, proceeds as a catchweight.
Featherweight Daniel Santos also struggled, initially weighing 147 pounds before returning at 146 pounds after stripping down. His fight with Jeong Yeong Lee, who made 146 pounds, remains intact.
UFC officials announced Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi will be a featherweight bout at #UFC315 after originally being scheduled for bantamweight pic.twitter.com/cmo3IxtXO8
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 9, 2025
Aldo’s weight miss drew concern on X, with posts noting he looked “really drained” and “rough” at 143 pounds. Some questioned his future in lower weight classes, while others praised Zahabi’s flexibility.
One X post incorrectly claimed both Aldo and Zahabi missed weight, stating Zahabi hit 142 pounds “7 pounds over” bantamweight. Zahabi was 136.8 pounds before stopping his cut, clarifying the error.
Aldo, ranked No. 11 at bantamweight, aims to rebound from a split decision loss to Mario Bautista at UFC 307 in October 2024. He called that performance “shitty,” vowing to show his best against Zahabi.
Zahabi, on a five-fight win streak, sees the bout as a career-defining moment. His boxing skills will test Aldo’s legendary Muay Thai and defensive wrestling.
UFC 315 also includes prelim bouts like Jessica Andrade versus Jasmine Jasudavicius, both on weight at 126 and 124 pounds. The early prelims start at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
The weigh-in drama sets a tense stage for UFC 315, with Aldo’s health and performance under scrutiny. Montreal’s fight night will reveal if he can reclaim his dominance at featherweight.
