ALL 26 FIGHTERS MADE weight ahead of tomorrow night’s UFC 218 card, but there was very nearly a late mishap with the last man to step on the scales.
The main event in Detroit will be a rematch between Jose Aldo and Max Holloway, with Aldo looking to regain the featherweight title he lost to Holloway back in June.
However, for a moment this afternoon it looked as if their second clash might be downgraded to a non-title bout when Aldo emerged to weigh in.
Jose Aldo looked to have a little trouble today at the #UFC218 Official Weigh-ins... Watch full video: https://t.co/FMraASn5HM pic.twitter.com/CCwbWcuIvG
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 1, 2017
At the end of a weight cut for his 30th professional fight, the Brazilian veteran looked lethargic and disorientated as he stepped on the scales to learn that he weighed 146 pounds — one pound above the limit for a featherweight championship bout.
“Aldo is now clearly in pain,” said MMAFighting.com reporter Ariel Helwani during their broadcast of the weigh-ins. “He’s a little bit out of sorts here.”
Aldo makes weight on his second attempt. First try he was 146. He looked a bit out of sorts. Hands on his knees. Gaunt. Dropped his shorts and hit 145. Everyone made weight. 218 is good to go. Thanks for watching, from the potato chip capital of America!
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 1, 2017
As he called for a towel to obscure the view while he removed his shorts and made a second attempt, the 31-year-old was clearly uncomfortable as he leaned on the scales with his head bowed.
But at the second time of asking, a relieved Aldo made the required weight so the title will still be on the line tomorrow night as Holloway makes his first defence of the belt.
.@Justin_Gaethje lends UFC featherweight champ @BlessedMMA a hand at the #UFC218 Official Weigh-ins 😂✊. Watch full video: https://t.co/FMraASn5HM pic.twitter.com/Nbv2MkjAy8
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) December 1, 2017
While the champion also looked gaunt and removed his shirts before his first attempt to weigh in at 145 pounds, he appeared fresher and more sprightly than his opponent.
It will be interesting to see if Aldo, who has spoken previously about the struggles of making weight, can recover sufficiently as he aims to win back the title he relinquished following a third-round TKO defeat to Holloway in Rio de Janeiro.
