UFC 274: Charles Oliveira stripped of lightweight title after missing weight for bout vs. Justin Gaethje
Charles Oliveira of Brazil punches Tony Ferguson in their lightweight bout during the UFC 256 event at UFC APEX on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Credit: Zuffa/LLC via Getty Images/Handout
Charles Oliveira lost his UFC lightweight title Friday, more than 24 hours before he could make it to the cage to defend it at UFC 274.
Oliveira weighed in officially at 155.5 pounds, a half-pound over the limit for lightweight championship fights, on Friday in Phoenix, and was thus stripped of the title ahead of Saturday night’s main event against Justin Gaethje. Oliveira was given an hour to cut the remaining eight ounces after initially weighing in, but when he returned, he still was at 155.5 pounds.
It is the first time a UFC champion was stripped of their title because of missing weight.
The UFC lightweight title is now vacated, and only Gaethje can win it and become champion on Saturday night. Gaethje came in on weight at 155 pounds.
“If Oliveira wins, he will be the number one contender for the vacant lightweight championship and will fight the next challenger for the undisputed title belt at a time and place to be determined,” the UFC said in a statement Friday evening.
Mark La Monica is a deputy sports editor at Newsday. He also covers mixed martial arts.
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