Khamzat Chimaev has missed weight for the UFC 279 main event.
The top-ranked contender came in 7. 5 pounds over the welterweight limit at Friday’s official weigh-ins, tipping the scales at 178. 5 pounds. Chimaev’s opponent Nate Diaz successfully made weight at 171 pounds (with one-pound allowance).
It’s not known yet if the fight will go ahead as planned and, if it does, how much of Chimaev’s purse will be forfeited.
Watch a live stream of the official UFC 279 weigh-ins above.
Chimaev has competed at welterweight and middleweight in the UFC. This is the first time that Chimaev has missed weight since joining the promotion in 2020.
Co-main event welterweights Li Jingliang and Tony Ferguson successfully made weight at 170. 5 and 171 pounds, respectively. This is Ferguson’s first appearance at welterweight since winning The Ultimate Fighter 13 tournament final in 2011.
All other fighters have successfully made weight so far.
Main card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
Khamzat Chimaev (178. 5)* vs. Nate Diaz (171)
Tony Ferguson (171) vs. Li Jingliang (170. 5)
Kevin Holland (179. 5) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (179) — 180-pound catchweight
Irene Aldana (137. 5) vs. Macy Chiasson (139. 5) — 140-pound catchweight
Johnny Walker (205) vs. Ion Cutelaba (205. 5)
Preliminary Card (ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET)
Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa (146)
Jailton Almeida (216. 5) vs. Anton Turkalj (214) — 220-pound catchweight
Denis Tiuliulin (186) vs. Jamie Pickett (185. 5)
Jake Collier (265) vs. Chris Barnett
Early Prelims (ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET)
Norma Dumont vs. Danyelle Wolf
Chad Anheliger (135. 5) vs. Alatengheili (135)
Melissa Martinez (113. 5) vs. Elise Reed (115. 5)
Darian Weeks (170. 5) vs. Yohan Lainesse (171)
*missed weight
