I. Adesanya (left) and R. Whittaker (right) face each other in the UFC 271. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage
The long-awaited rematch between Israel adesanya e Robert whittaker its confirmed. Protagonists of UFC 271, which takes place this Saturday (12), the athletes passed the scale challenge with ease. At a weigh-in held this Friday (11), the champion and the challenger reached the same weight and made the middleweight belt dispute (up to 83,9kg) official this weekend. One of the 15 scheduled clashes was cancelled.
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Middleweight champion since 2019, Adesanya is looking for his fourth title defense in the category. The fighter didn't need much time to present himself for measurements and weighed 83,4kg, around 500g. the required limit.
If Israel was in a hurry to step up to the scales, Whittaker was in even more of a rush. Dethroned by Israel in UFC 243, the New Zealander was the first to check his weight, recording the same 83,9kg. from the rival for the rematch.
Representative of the co-main fight, Tai tuivasa surprised and almost broke the scale. The favorite of Ultimate fans, the heavyweight weighed 120,2kg, the limit for title fights.
Responsible for trying to end Tuivasa's good moment, Derrick Lewis is also confirmed. Former challenger for the category belt, the 'giant' came close to breaking the scale, but managed to secure 120,6kg.
Brazil 100%
In the search for stability in lightweight (up to 70,3kg.), Renato Moicano is ready for the new commitment. In his fourth appointment in the group led by Charles of the Bronx, the Tupiniquim weighed 70,7kg.).
Responsible for trying to prevent the Brazilian's rise in the division, Alexander Hernandez scored the same 70,7kg. of the opponent.
The first Tupiniquim to step into the Octagon this weekend, Douglas D' Silva was in great shape when he arrived at the scouting venue. The athlete weighed 61,6kg, around 400g. above the opponent, Sergey Morozov, weighing 61,2kg. The clash is official.
Fight canceled for the fourth time
Former mocha belt challenger (up to 56,7kg.), Alex Perez He was the only one, among the 30 athletes included in the show, to fail the weight cut. At 58kg, the combatant weighed approximately 0,9kg. above what is required.
Opponent of former opponent of Deiveson Figueiredo, Matt schnell He also had problems weighing in, but managed to reach the established limit. Near the end of the measurements, the Ultimate management confirmed that the clash had been cut from the show.
Last minute change
An unusual scene marked the official weigh-in for the UFC 271. Scheduled to play in the light heavyweight division (up to 93kg), Willian Knight exceeded the scale limit by more than 5kg, while his opponent, Maxim grishin, fulfilled the role, weighing 93,4kg.
Moments later, there was the announcement that the confrontation, which could be canceled by the Athletic Commission, moved to the heavyweight division. The fight will then continue at the event, but Knight must pass on 40% of his purse to his rival.
Check out the athletes' weights for UFC 271
MAIN CARD (0 p.m. Brasília time)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Israel adesanya (83,4kg.) x Robert whittaker (83,4kg.) – Fight for the belt
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Derrick Lewis (120,6kg.)x Tai tuivasa (120,2kg.)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Jared Cannonier (83,9kg.) x Derek Brunson (84,1kg.)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Kyler Phillips (61,6kg.) x Marcelo red (61,6kg.)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Bobby Green (70,5kg.) x Nasrat Haqparast (70,7kg.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (20 p.m. Brasília time)
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Andrei Arlovski (11,5kg.) x Jared Vanderaa (120,2kg.)
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Roxanne Modafferi (57,1kg) x Casey O'Neill (56,9kg.)
Flyweight (up to 56,7kg): Alex Perez (58kg.)* x Matt schnell (57,1kg.) – Fight canceled
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): William knight (98,8kg.) x Maxim grishin (93,4kg.)
Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg): Mana Martinez (61,6kg) x Ronnie Lawrence (61,6kg.)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Alexander Hernandez (70,7kg.) x Renato Moicano (70,7kg.)
Light heavyweight (up to 93kg): Carlos Ulberg x Fabio Cherant (93,4kg.)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): AJ Dobson (83,9kg.) x Jacob Malkoun (84,3kg.)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Douglas D'Silva (61,6kg.) x Sergey Morozov (61,2kg.)
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Jeremiah Wells (77,3kg.) x Blood Diamond (77,1kg.)
*Alex Perez it was around 0,9kg. above the established limit and the confrontation was cancelled;
**For all fights without a belt involved, athletes receive a pound (454g.) allowance over the official weights of their respective divisions.
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