Lightweight Champion Gains 23LBS Before UFC 311 Main Event
Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev piled on 23.5lbs twenty-four hours before UFC 311. How did the people hear this news, are the sources reliable? The answer to that question is MMA reporter and broadcaster Aaron Bronsteter. Bronsteter posted the commission’s data publicly on the social media site X. Among the data was each fighter’s weight before and on fight night. Names such as lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, the champ quickly put on 23.5 pounds. Only twenty-four hours before his title defence at UFC 311. Almost a middleweight 178lbs is what Makhachev weighed the next night. With the lines between weight classes so drastically clouded some would call the champion a weight bully.
Weight Class Boundaries and Weight Bullies
What does being a weight bully mean and how does a bully affect the weight class? A weight bully is a term used in combat sports to describe someone who uses their weight as an advantage. On the other side of the coin, the term weight bully is used subjectively. You call us weight Bullies because you don’t understand how to cut weight. There’s no yes or no research that proves either method gives you an advantage. In combat sports. What is clear is if the fans feel you are too big for the weight class you could be labeled a weight bully.
UFC 311 blurred the Line Between Weight Divisions
The champion Islam Makhachev would have been the subject of such an accusation last Saturday night. Had the challenger not come to the main event weighing 181.8 pounds. Renato Moicano the challenger for Makhachevs lightweight title entered the octagon weighing in at the UFC middleweight limit. Fans understand that contracts include maintaining and cutting but what’s not understood is where the line in the sand is drawn. Although it may seem robust Moicano vs Makhachev was not the biggest weight disparity on the pay-per-view. Enter Reinier De Ridder 2-0 as UFC middleweight RDR (De Ridder) put on a massive 27lbs to enter the octagon fight night at 212lbs. That’s correct De Ridder was only four pounds heavier than former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka. he weighed 208lbs fight night when he took on Jamahal Hill.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
