Thiago Pitbull suffers, but makes weight for UFC 138

The official weigh-in for UFC 138 took place this Friday, in Birmingham (England). Only one fighter did not reach the regulatory mark for his category, the Brazilian Thiago Pitbull. The Ceará native weighed 172 pounds (around 78kg), one pound above the 171lbs tolerance defined by the Unified MMA Rules.

This wasn't the first time that Pitbull failed to weigh in for a UFC fight. In victory against Matt hugsIn 2008, he weighed 174lbs. In his loss to Jon Fitch in 2010, he scored 171,5lbs. In addition to these occasions, the American Top Team athlete was also caught in anti-doping when he beat Tony DeSouza, at UFC 66, in 2006. Thiago was suspended for 8 months on that occasion due to the use of spironolactone, a diuretic used to cut weight.

The Brazilian will have an additional hour to try to lose one pound (about 450g). If he fails, his opponent, the Congolese naturalized Swedish Papy Abedi will have the right to choose whether to accept fighting an opponent above the weight limit. If Abedi accepts, Alves will pay a fine to his opponent, which will be deducted from the Brazilian's purse.

Update
In his second attempt to reach the 170-pound limit (about 77 kg.) in the welterweight category, the Brazilian Thiago Pitbull managed to reach 171 pounds (about 77,6 kg.). However, as the Unified MMA Rules allow a tolerance of one pound, the athlete from Ceará is free to face Papy Abedi.

Fatal change? Makhachev ignores warning and could end tragically at welterweight!