The old adage is that the fight before the fight in MMA is the one with the scale.
Weight-cutting struggles and eventual weight misses are a regular part of the sport. Throughout 2023, this story will be updated to include any UFC infractions on the scale – or UFC fights that are scrapped because of issues with a fighter’s weight.
In an ideal world, by the end of the calendar year, this list will be a short one – but time will tell.
Fighters listed are in chronological order of their scheduled bouts.
(List updated following UFC Fight Night 221 weigh-ins in Las Vegas, March 10, 2023.)
Sijara Eubanks
Sijara Eubanks, UFC Fight Night 199
Event: UFC Fight Night 217
Date: Jan. 14
Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Division: Women’s flyweight
Final weight: N/A
Notes: Sijara Eubanks didn’t weigh in for her scheduled 125-pound matchup against Priscila Cachoeira. While she technically did not miss weight, Eubanks’ “weight management issues,” according to the UFC, forced the fight to be canceled. Eubanks has a history of weight issues in the UFC. She was set to fight Nicco Montano in the “TUF 26” women’s flyweight final, but had to be pulled from the bout for a bad weight cut in December 2017. She missed the flyweight limit in 2018, then returned to bantamweight for six fights. For a December 2021 loss to Melissa Gatto, her most recent fight ahead of her issues ahead of the Cachoeira fight, Eubanks also missed weight.
Kleydson Rodrigues
Kleydson Rodrigues
Event: UFC 284
Date: Feb. 12
Location: RAC Arena, Perth, Australia
Division: Flyweight
Final weight: 127
Notes: Kleydson Rodrigues weighed in a pound over the flyweight non-title limit and was fined 20 percent of his purse. Rodrigues beat Shannon Ross with a 59-second TKO.
Zubaira Tukhugov
Zubaira Tukhugov
Event: UFC 284
Date: Feb. 12
Location: RAC Arena, Perth, Australia
Division: Lightweight
Final weight: 157.5
Notes: Zubaira Tukhugov weighed in 1.5 pounds over the lightweight non-title limit and was fined 30 percent of his purse. He fought Elves Brener to open the card and lost a split decision.
Geoff Neal
Geoff Neal
Event: UFC 285
Date: March 4
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Division: Welterweight
Final weight: 175
Notes: Geoff Neal weighed in 4 pounds over the welterweight non-title limit and was fined 30 percent of his purse. He was submitted by Shavkat Rakhmonov in the third round of their featured bout on the main card. Typically, Neal would be ineligible for a post-fight bonus because of the weight miss, but UFC president Dana White said he was giving Neal $50,000 for his part in the Fight of the Night, anyway.
Mana Martinez
Event: UFC 285
Date: March 4
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Division: Flyweight
Final weight: 127
Notes: Mana Martinez weighed in 1 pound over the bantamweight non-title limit and was fined 30 percent of his purse. He lost a majority decision to Cameron Saaiman on the early prelims
Ricardo Ramos
Ricardo Ramos
Event: UFC Fight Night 221
Date: March 11
Location: The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas
Division: Featherweight
Final weight: 154
Notes: Ricardo Ramos weighed in 8 pounds over the featherweight non-title limit. His fight against Austin Lingo was canceled.
Jared Gooden
Jared Gooden
Event: UFC Fight Night 221
Date: March 11
Location: The Theater at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas
Division: Welterweight
Final weight: 177
Notes: Jared Gooden weighed in 6 pounds over the bantamweight non-title limit and was fined 30 percent of his purse, but he took the fight on just three days’ notice. He lost a unanimous decision to Carlston Harris to open the early prelims. Gooden also missed weight for a welterweight bout at UFC Fight Night 194 in 2021.