'Dodgy as f**k': UFC world erupts over Khabib's weigh-in drama
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been embroiled in a weigh-in controversy as he looks to defend his belt against Justin Gaethje on Fight Island.
Khabib looked relieved as he put his head in his hands after making weight for the 155-pound bout, but it was alleged the balance beam on the scales was moved before it settled.
'PATHETIC': UFC fighter sparks outrage with 'F*** LeBron' shirt
‘EXTREMELY TROUBLING’: Photo exposes boxing judge 'disgrace'
Sports Nutritionist, Mike Dolce, alleged the offical moved the scale beam before it had time to settle and it was not a true reflection of Khabib’s weight.
He claimed the weigh-in was “not correct” and Khabib would not have made weight if the beam was allowed to stabilise.
“(The beam is going in an) upwards trajectory, and it has to balance,” Dolce said in a video.
“It’s going up. That means he’s heavy, and (the official) wipes it there as it’s still on its way up. It doesn’t bounce and doesn’t stabilise in the centre. That’s not correct.”
“Unfortunately, in my expert opinion, I do not believe that Khabib would have made the 155-pound weight class limit on this attempt,” Dolce added.
“What we thinking he actually weighed, 158lbs?” journalist Sean Sheehan added, when discussing Dolce’s video.
“Don’t care, glad the fight is on … but that was dodgy as f***.”
MMA experts question Khabib weigh-in
A few MMA experts called for the controversy to be addressed.
While others addressed why Khabib looked so relieved to make the tight weight-cut.
KHABIB WEIGH IN CONTROVERSY MUST BE ANSWERED BY @UFC @danawhite
pic.twitter.com/ByHo4aUg04— 𝙹𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎 𝙹𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚜™️ (@NotoriousJesse) October 23, 2020
ICYMI. Khabib and Gaethje made weight earlier today. Both 155. Khabib was first.
(That’s a veteran move by the official manning the scale, eh?) pic.twitter.com/oukFztLLza— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 23, 2020
Or to keep cutting. That’s why when fighters weigh in over on the official scale, they don’t usually look surprised that they missed, cos they already know.
Khabib would have looked relieved cos there’s always still a chance that the scales aren’t identical to the 0.00 degree— Jessy Jess (@missjessyjess) October 23, 2020
However, Khabib’s coach Javier Mendez was quick to shut down the allegations and claimed people were making controversy out of nothing.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
