- UFC 274’s official weighing scale was reportedly “messed up”
- Charles Oliveira’s head coach doubled down on their claim that they made weight the night prior
- Justin Gaethje is not buying any of Oliveira’s team’s comments
Shocking news broke on Friday after UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira missed weight by a half-pound. It prompted the UFC to strip him of his title, making his opponent Justin Gaethje the only one who can compete for the 155-pound strap.
UFC 274 Weigh-In Results: Charles Oliveira Misses Weight, Stripped Of Title https://t.co/c0MRaftn8S via @middleeasy
— MiddleEasy (@MiddleEasy) May 6, 2022
However, a more shocking update circulated soon after as some UFC fighters alleged that something wasn’t right about the scale.
A “messed up” scale?
According to MMA Fighting, Oliveira’s compatriot Ariane Carnelossi, who was also slated for a bout at UFC 274, stated that “the hotel scale had been reset overnight.” The report adds that “a UFC official allegedly reached out to all teams informing them that the scale was not showing the same weight as before.” Hence, the alleged “weight differential varied from 0.5 to two pounds.”
Norma Dumont, who also missed by 0.5 pounds for her featherweight clash against Macy Chiasson, also shared her unbelievable experience with the scale. Per the report, Dumont said the scale initially showed she was “three pounds over the limit on Thursday night” and became 150 pounds the following day. The report also stated that another person has revealed that “the scale was messed up.”
The UFC has yet to address the matter but the Arizona Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts Commission has already released a statement to shed light about their involvement in the reported scale issues.
“Promoters are allowed to use the scale of their choice for official weigh-ins, as long as it has been deemed appropriately calibrated by Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission Staff,” A commission spokesman told MMA Fighting on Friday evening. “Staff reviewed the official weigh-in scale to ensure proper calibration and found no issues prior to and during the official weigh-in. Any scales used for any purpose other than official weigh-ins (such as those that may be used for fighters to unofficially test their weight) are not calibrated or inspected by Commission Staff as they are typically provided by the Promoter, not the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission.”
Oliveira’s team was confident about his weight
After missing weight, Oliveira insisted that he didn’t understand what happened as he was certain he came in on weight.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet Combate, Oliveira’s head coach Diego Lima echoed his fighter’s sentiment and insisted that they even announced that “Do Bronx” made weight on social media.
weight ✔️
peso✔️#UFC274
— Charles 'DoBronxs' Oliveira (@CharlesDoBronxs) May 6, 2022
“We went to sleep on weight, we checked the weight on the scale the organization leaves for us downstairs and everything was OK,” Lima said translated by MMA Fighting. “When we checked it in the morning, [his weight] was off. We even posted last night that he had made weight because that’s what really happened. You’re witnesses of this, Charles has never missed weight since he moved up to 155. Even when there was no belt [on the line], he was under the limit, he didn’t use the pound allowance.
“If I keep saying it, people will think it’s an excuse, but that’s the truth,” he added. “We even posted last night he made weight well. He made weight and went to bed.”
Gaethje is not convinced
As the rumors about the scale swirl, Gaethje took his blunt take on the issue to Twitter. For “The Highlight,” Oliveira’s claim is just “bs” as all the other fighters involved in title fights at UFC 274, including himself didn’t have any problem with it.
“3/4 made championship weight. Cut the BS,” Gaethje tweeted.
3/4 made championship weight. Cut the BS.
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) May 6, 2022
I posted my weight 3 hours after I stepped on the scale. Average weight gained back by athletes in the UFC is 10% of body weight. You guys might not like it but it is the law of the land. #fyi
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) May 6, 2022
Apparently scale out the back said he was on weight and then official up front said he wasn’t. For context, we weigh in twice infront of officials before we head to the real scale, once at the hotel and once at the back of the arena. 2 scales say he is 145, official says 145.5
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) May 6, 2022
Congratulations to the “smart” who reset the fighters’ weight conference scale and calibrated it wrong with 200g of difference. We only found out this morning that it was making a difference in the athletic commission scale. @AgFight
@sextoroundmma
Parabéns ao “inteligente” que resetou a balança de conferência de peso dos lutadores e calibrou ela errado com 200g de diferença. Só ficamos sabendo hoje pela manhã que estava dando diferença da balança da comissão atlética.@AgFight @sextoroundmma
— Ariane “Sorriso” Carnelossi (@ArianeSorrisoo) May 6, 2022
