A tense moment during the UFC 320 weigh-ins raised significant concerns regarding the status of the co-main event.
Following their pre-fight face-off, both Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen had one crucial step remaining before Saturday night`s highly anticipated bout: making weight.
Known as ‘The Machine,’ Dvalishvili is scheduled to defend his bantamweight championship for the third time this year at the T-Mobile Arena on October 4.
While many anticipate Dvalishvili`s victory despite the formidable challenge posed by his opponent, a pre-fight incident suggested potential complications before the event officially began.
Merab Dvalishvili Confirms Fight After Dramatic Weigh-In Delays at UFC 320
Ahead of his third title defense, some consider Merab Dvalishvili to be the greatest bantamweight of all time. Although a victory on Saturday would undoubtedly bolster this claim, a moment of concern at the weigh-ins threatened the scheduled fight.
An apparent issue arose when the Nevada State Athletic Commission took an unusually long time to register Dvalishvili`s weight after he stepped onto the scale. Dvalishvili, `The Machine,` was instructed to step off and then back onto the scale. The extended delay in announcing his weight created visible tension among live observers.
Following yet another pause, a curtain was utilized for Dvalishvili to strip down. Moments later, his weight was officially announced at precisely 135 pounds, bringing a collective sigh of relief.
Cory Sandhagen, who had weighed in earlier than his opponent, successfully made weight at 134.5 pounds, officially confirming the co-main event early in the weigh-in session.
UFC 320 Title Fights Confirmed; Other Bouts See Catchweight Adjustment and Weight Miss
To the relief of fight fans, the status of both championship bouts scheduled for this Saturday was confirmed swiftly at the commencement of the weigh-in period.
In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira both successfully made the light heavyweight limit for their rematch on October 4.
Only one fighter, Macy Chiasson, initially failed to make weight, registering 138 pounds for her bantamweight clash against Yana Santos. After stepping behind the curtain, Chiasson managed to reduce her weight to 137.5 pounds, giving her an hour to reach the 136-pound limit.
A notable alteration was made to Daniel Santos` featherweight fight against Yoo Joo-Sang, which will now proceed as a catchweight bout at 153 pounds. Santos weighed in at 151 pounds, while his opponent registered 152.5 pounds. The reason for the last-minute change from the original 145-pound featherweight limit has not yet been disclosed.
