'Tough to watch': UFC rocked by fighter's scary weigh-in collapse
Julija Stoliarenko's UFC fight against Julia Avila in Las Vegas has been cancelled after the fighter collapsed in scary scenes at the weigh-in on Friday.
UFC fans are used to seeing fighters hit the deck, but there was shock and concern when Stoliarenko fainted twice as she weighed in.
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Confronting footage showed the 27-year-old Lithuanian staggering backwards off the scales before falling onto her backside.
UFC security man Steve Read could be heard asking "Where's the doc?" as Stoliarenko insisted that she is fine while sitting on the stage.
After recovering briefly while sitting on a chair, she stepped onto the scales again with Read in close proximity and made the required weight of 135.5 pounds.
However she collapsed for a second time as she stepped off the scales and was later removed from the venue on a stretcher.
Her bout with Avila was canceled due to “weight-cutting issues,” according to ESPN.
It remains unclear why she was allowed to attempt to weigh-in a second time.
Many combat sports athletes go through a period of severe dehydration in the run-up to weigh-ins, expelling as much water as possible from their bodies in order to make weight and leaving them susceptible to fainting.
UFC world in shock over 'scary' scenes
Avila joined fans in sending their well-wishes to Stoliarenko.
"Speedy recovery fellow Julia," Avila tweeted.
"Your health comes first, hopefully we see each other at another date. Prayers sister."
Speedy recovery fellow Julia. Your health comes first, hopefully we see each other at another date. Prayers sister. 🐼💜 https://t.co/hppjJ6IrkT
— Julia Avila (@RagingPandaMMA) March 19, 2021
Hoping Julija Stoliarenko is all good 🙏 #UFCVegas22
— The Fight Bubble (@thefightbubble) March 19, 2021
Reposted from @fullviolence UFC fighter Julija Stoliarenko just fainted on the scale. Scary stuff. 😳 (via @theschmozone) https://t.co/MjMWuiVnFT
— Ambassador To Fighters (@tapsuout911) March 19, 2021
Julija Stoliarenko just collapsed off the scale as she tried to weigh in at #UFCVegas22. Very scary scene. Hope she’s OK. pic.twitter.com/aYiUV5AGj4
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) March 19, 2021
I really hope Julija Stoliarenko is ok. That was tough to watch.
— Gino (@_BrokenCross_) March 19, 2021
Very scary scenes as Julija Stoliarenko passes out on the scales as she weighed in for her bout tommorow night with Julia Avila!
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All the best to her and I really hope she recovers well. https://t.co/Ff5bkQwwrh— 〽️agical Petro™ (@HazElsonBLBR) March 19, 2021
This is super scary. I really hope the NSAC cancels the Julija Stoliarenko vs Julia Avila fight#UFCVegas22 #MMA #MMATwitter https://t.co/22aV11vZBe
— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) March 19, 2021
Hopefully Julija Stoliarenko is alright after the scary scene we all just witnessed
Before something worse happens, the dialogue around weight cutting has to be front and centre to prevent things like this from happening again. Athletic commissions need to do more— Craig Allen (@CraigAllenFNP) March 19, 2021
Stoliarenko boasts a 9-4 record in UFC.
She was last beaten by Yana Kunitskaya via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 174 in August, which snapped a previous five-fight win streak dating back to 2019.
Aliva, 32, is currently 8-2 following her loss in September to Sijara Eubanks at UFC Fight Night 177.
with agencies
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