The weigh-in drama at UFC 325 has thrown a wrench into Aaron Tau's highly anticipated flyweight bout against Namsrai Batbayar, leaving fans scratching their heads! This Saturday's event in Australia was set to feature an exciting clash, but a peculiar incident during the weigh-ins has led to the fight's unfortunate cancellation.
New Zealand's own Aaron Tau initially stepped onto the scales in Sydney. For those unfamiliar, fighters sometimes use a curtain during weigh-ins to shed the weight of their clothing, a technique usually employed when making a very tight weight cut. Tau's first reading was 122.25lb (which translates to 8st 10.25lb). This result immediately raised eyebrows among commentators Chris Weidman and RJ Clifford during the live broadcast. They expressed confusion, questioning how Tau could be a significant 3.75lb under the flyweight limit while utilizing this weight-shedding method.
But here's where it gets controversial...
Following the initial reading, UFC officials decided to have Tau step on the scales again, this time with the curtain removed. The second weigh-in revealed a drastically different number: 129lb (or 9st 2lb), putting him a 3lb over the flyweight limit. This significant swing in weight ultimately led to the UFC's decision to remove the fight from the official card.
And this is the part most people miss...
During the broadcast, the commentators drew a parallel between this mishap and a famous incident involving former light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, Daniel Cormier, back in 2017. Cormier was facing a title fight against Anthony Johnson and initially weighed in 1.2lb over the 205lb (or 14st 6lb) light-heavyweight limit. He then stepped on the scales again, and this time registered exactly 205lb. However, eagle-eyed viewers noticed Cormier appeared to be resting his hands on the towel that officials were using to cover him. While Cormier initially denied any foul play, he later admitted he "may have grabbed the towel" to assist with the weight cut. Interestingly, Cormier faced no sanctions from the New York State Athletic Commission for this incident.
This situation with Aaron Tau certainly brings up questions about the integrity of weigh-ins and the fairness of such practices. What are your thoughts on the weigh-in process? Do you believe the rules are clear enough, or is there room for interpretation that can lead to controversy? Let us know in the comments below – we'd love to hear your perspective!
