Georges St-Pierre knows just how important it is to properly make weight if you want to be a champion.
The former UFC welterweight champion and all-time great never came in heavy for a single one of his 28-career bouts. For 18 of those, St-Pierre was required to make the division’s exact limit of 170 or 185-pounds to be eligible to win the title.
At UFC 279’s official weigh-ins this past Friday, rising undefeated superstar Khamzat Chimaev missed weight worse than most ever do, coming in heavy by seven and a half pounds. “Borz’s” miss resulted in the entire top of the card being shifted about and he dropped from the main event vs. Nate Diaz to co-main event opposite Kevin Holland.
Regardless, the now 12-0 dominator ran through Holland, earning a first-round d’arce choke submission. Chimaev remains at No. 3 in the UFC’s official welterweight rankings and still knocks on the door of a title shot despite the drama he created.
“He needs to make weight,” St-Pierre told The Schmo. “When you miss weight it’s a big disrespect not only to your opponent but to the sport. But we don’t know what happened. Maybe there’s a reason, maybe there’s a medical reason or something, so when you don’t know, you don’t know. But for sure, in the future, if he misses weight another time, maybe that will prevent him from having a title shot.
“Maybe give him the chance to go back at 170 if he wants to, but he can’t miss weight. Missing weight, it’s hard to forgive. As a fan, I would like to see Kamaru Usman get revenge [for the next title fight] because if anyone deserves it, it’s him. Maybe perhaps Chimaev has a shot against the winner of this fight [with Leon Edwards].”
According to Chimaev’s coach Andreas Michael on The MMA Hour this week, Chimaev was dealing with some severe back spasms, shaking, and vomiting during the weight-cutting process. He also noted that his fighter simply came into camp heavy, but understands how unprofessional things turned out while highlighting this hasn’t been a reoccurring theme in Chimaev’s career.
In regards to the aforementioned Diaz who lost out on his dance with the Sweden resident, he went on to defeat Tony Ferguson via fourth-round guillotine. The fight was Diaz’s last on his UFC contract. Even though St-Pierre and the Diaz camp have had their differences in the past — mostly thanks to big brother Nick — the legend couldn’t have been any more complimentary of how things unfolded.
“I’m very happy for him,” St-Pierre said of Diaz. “He came out on top, beautiful. Whatever he does next, it’s up to him. But he’s got the power to choose what he wants to do and he’s gonna be paid accordingly. You need to be smart in this business and what I’m saying to the young fighters, it’s that you should retire from the sport, not let the sport retire you.”
TOP STORIES
Reflection. Cory Sandhagen has no regrets about taking short-notice title fight with Petr Yan even if it put him back at ‘the end of the line’
Sequel. Daniel Rodriguez calls controversial UFC 279 bout against Li Jingliang ‘a close fight,’ open to rematch
Rivalry. Chael Sonnen still feels deep kinship to Anderson Silva: ‘When his career dies, mine dies’
Departure. Mickey Gall no longer under contract, still possible to re-sign with UFC
ICE. Beneil Dariush reveals he’s expected to serve as backup to Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev at UFC 280
Decision. Controversial title fight result in Canada upheld after commission review of alleged fouls
Comeback. Marlon Moraes ends MMA retirement, signs with PFL for 2023 season
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck chats with Raul Rosas Jr.
MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck chats with Jon Anik.
Bonus Resume: Song Yadong.
Cory Sandhagen: A Desire to Win Like No Other
Next Level: Joe Pyfer.
Loma time.
UFC 279 fight motion.
Advice from Sterling.
Izzy and Volk celebrate.
3 Rounds with DC.
LISTEN UP
Heck of a Morning. MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck discusses who has more pressure ahead of UFC 280 between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.
Rankings Show. MMA Fighting’s Shaun Al-Shatti, Alexander K. Lee, Jed Meshew and Damon Martin discuss if it’s time to stop calling Demetrious Johnson a flyweight.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Soon.
Pride.
UFC commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating our athletes & fans representing U.S. Hispanic and Latin American communities & other Spanish speaking countries around the world. We are proud to acknowledge the influence that Hispanic and Latino culture has played in UFC. pic.twitter.com/wnty6bzujK
— UFC (@ufc) September 15, 2022
New Cub.
4️⃣Weeks pic.twitter.com/CJiVhffo9i
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 15, 2022
Acceptance.
“[Anthony] Smith said it best…Izzy’s a terrible matchup for me and I hate that fight…but I do truly believe I’m the best middleweight in the world.”
Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) responds to @lionheartasmith‘s assessment of the MW division. @RJcliffordMMA @DinThomas pic.twitter.com/dMQOoSlcyx
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) September 15, 2022
Classic Khabib.
Miss you, @teamkhabib pic.twitter.com/ckB2KkOI7E
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 15, 2022
Pereira things.
Killer inside and outside the ring.@AlexPereiraUFC | #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/U8cAl3Ztyl
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) September 15, 2022
So sweet.
Huge shoutout to my guy @MikeChandlerMMA for this left hook! Appreciate you bro! @Sanabul @MonsterEnergy @henrihooft pic.twitter.com/ZVSupz4TRG
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) September 16, 2022
That retirement sure lasted long.
Guys I wanna announce I’m coming home where I started, I wanna thank the legend Ray Sefo & @PFLMMA get ready for some firework
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) September 16, 2022
I can’t wait!!!!
— Kayla Harrison (@KaylaH) September 16, 2022
Practice.
Awareness.
Khabib has spoken.
I just think Charles Oliveira will not show up in Abu Dhabi and the UFC will replace Charles with Beneil Dariush.
Regardless of who the opponent will be, @MAKHACHEVMMA is on his way to becoming the best in the world #ufc280
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) September 16, 2022
Another wonderful poster.
＼湘南美容クリニック presents／
#RIZIN39：10.23(日) 14:00開始(予定)
：マリンメッセ福岡
：https://t.co/onGIikBAHRチケット一般発売 10/2(日)~
※ファンクラブ最速先行 9/19(祝・月)~ pic.twitter.com/S4eMXkqF3V— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) September 16, 2022
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bryce Mitchell (15-1) vs. Movsar Evloev (16-0); UFC Vegas 64, Nov. 5
Juntaro Ushiku (22-8-1) vs. Kleber Koike (30-5-1); RIZIN 39, Oct. 23
Koji Takeda (14-3) vs. Zach Zane (15-13); RIZIN 39, Oct. 23
Erik Silva (9-1) vs. T.J. Brown (16-9); UFC 282, Dec. 10
FINAL THOUGHTS
When GSP speaks, you listen.
Happy Friday, gang. Enjoy the weekend and thanks for reading.
EXIT POLL
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