Charles Oliveira STRIPPED of UFC lightweight title after failing to make weight but Justin Gaethje fight WILL go ahead
CHARLES OLIVEIRA has been stripped of the UFC lightweight title after failing to make weight for his bout with Justin Gaethje.
The UFC 274 bout WILL still go ahead... but only Gaethje is eligible to win the belt if successful.
If Oliveira wins, he will have to triumph in a further bout in order to earn back the belt, which would remain vacant until then.
The Brazilian was half a pound over the 155 lbs limit when he stepped on the scales this evening.
He was given a further hour to make weight, but couldn't manage to do so.
In non-title fights, UFC athletes are given a one pound allowance when hitting the scales.
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But title fights are more strict.
Gaethje, 33, made weight for the fight - standing at 155 lbs exactly.
The Highlight will have his second chance at securing UFC gold.
In his first attempt, he was defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov on Fight Island, in what turned out to be the 29-0 Russian's final bout.
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Oliveira went into the weigh-in believing that he had made weight.
He tweeted prior to stepping onto the scales: "weight ✔️peso✔️#UFC274".
Michael Chandler has lost his last two fights to Oliveira and Gaethje respectively.
The American, in action on tomorrow night's main card against Tony Ferguson, tweeted: "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"
As Oliveira attempted to shed the extra weight, Gaethje joked that he had ALREADY put on 10 lbs.
Posting a picture of electronic scales reading 165.2 lbs, he wrote on his Instagram story: "Poor b****** still cutting.
"I'm back to 65 while he's dying. He better make it. He has five minutes."
Oliveira earned the belt by beating Chandler last year, after it was vacated by retired former champion Khabib.
He took 28 fights to finally become UFC champion - the longest route in the promotion's history.
"Do Bronx" subsequently defended his title against Dustin Poirier last December, prior to losing it on the scales today.
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Rose Namajunas is putting her strawweight title on the line against Carla Esparza tomorrow night at UFC 274.
Both fighters successfully made weight.
