Jose Aldo is back at featherweight, though that wasn’t the plan.
The former UFC and WEC champion was scheduled to face Aimeann Zahabi in a bantamweight bout on Saturday’s UFC 315 main card. However, moments before Aldo stepped to the scale at Friday’s official weigh-ins, officials announced that Aldo vs. Zahabi would now be contested at a weight limit of 145 pounds.
Watch their weigh-in below.
UFC officials announced Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi will be a featherweight bout at #UFC315 after originally being scheduled for bantamweight pic.twitter.com/cmo3IxtXO8
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 9, 2025
Sources with knowledge of the situation told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Guilherme Cruz that the change was made due to issues on Aldo’s side. By 8 p.m. Thursday evening, Aldo was reportedly still nine pounds over the bantamweight limit for a non-title fight (136) and was told by a doctor he could not cut anymore weight.
Contracts were later negotiated for the fight with Zahabi receiving a percentage of Aldo’s purse, though the number was not revealed. Regardless, the bout remains on the card.
The top-two fights of the event are both official, with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena both hitting 170 on the dot for Saturday’s main event, and Valentina Shevchenko coming in a shade under the limit at 124 pounds for her co-headlining flyweight title defense against Manon Fiorot (125).
Aldo wasn’t the only fighter who had difficulties with the scale. Featherweight Daniel Marcos weighed in above the 145-pound limit on his first try, but later returned and successfully hit the mark after stripping down while covered by a box.
Middleweight Bruno Silva wasn’t so lucky. “Blindado” was the last fighter to show up in the official two-hour weigh-in window and he came in at 187 pounds, one pound over the middleweight limit for a non-title fight. Despite repeated attempts to weigh-in with assistance from the box, Silva’s weight did not change.
The UFC later announced that Silva’s bout with Marc-Andre Barriault proceeds at a catchweight with Silva forfeiting 20 percent of his purse as penalty.
Check out the UFC 315 weigh-in results below.
Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
Belal Muhammad (170) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (170)
Backup fighter: Ian Machado Garry (168)
Valentina Shevchenko (124) vs. Manon Fiorot (125)
Jose Aldo (143) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (142) — fight moved to featherweight
Alexa Grasso (126) vs. Natalia Silva (126)
Benoit Saint Denis (156) vs. Kyle Prepolec (156)
Prelims (ESPN/ESPN+/Disney+ at 8 p.m. ET)
Mike Malott (171) vs. Charles Radtke (171)
Jessica Andrade (126) vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius (124)
Modestas Bukauskas (203) vs. Ion Cutelaba (205)
Navajo Stirling (205) vs. Ivan Erslan (205)
Early Prelims (ESPN+/Disney+ at 6:30 p.m. ET)
Marc-Andre Barriault (185) vs. Bruno Silva (187)*
Daniel Santos (147 on first attempt, 146 on second try) vs. Jeong Yeong Lee (146)
Brad Katona (136) vs. Bekzat Almakhan (136)
*Silva missed weight. His bout with Marc-Andre Barriault will proceed at a catchweight with Silva forfeiting 20 percent of his purse as penalty, per UFC.
from MMA Fighting - All Posts https://ift.tt/TGE20SK
0 Comments
Dear valued readers,
I am writing to you today as LaPhezz, an international man of mystery with a passion for technology and a fascination for analytics. I have traveled the world and lived in many different places, and I have experienced a wide range of cultures and perspectives.
Despite my travels and encounters with countless people from all walks of life, I remain something of an enigma. My true identity is known to only a select few, and even those who know me well are often left guessing at my motivations and intentions.
As a tech enthusiast, I am always looking for new ways to leverage data and analytics to solve complex problems and make the world a better place. I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for positive change, and I am constantly exploring the latest trends and innovations in the field.
I am grateful to have such a diverse and engaged readership, and I am always eager to hear your feedback and insights. Whether you have questions about my work, suggestions for new topics to explore, or simply want to connect with a fellow tech enthusiast, I am always here to listen and engage.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in my work. Together, we can use technology and analytics to create a brighter, more connected world.
Best regards,
LaPhezz