UFC 223 weigh-ins shake up card leading to Iaquinta-Nurmagomedov
The UFC 223 weigh-ins Friday were as convoluted as the rest of the week.
After a slew of confusing reports during a successful set of weigh ins, Al Iaquinta eventually secured a main event fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, but because he didn't hit the championship weight limit of 155 lbs, he's not eligible to fight for the belt.
After Max Holloway was deemed medically unfit to continue his weight cut, Anthony Pettis was rumored as a replacement for Saturday's lightweight title fight against Nurmagomedov. Pettis still weighed in at 155.2 pounds despite his scheduled opponent, Michael Chiesa, pulling out of the event. He was initially given additional time to make championship weight (155 lbs exactly), but he reportedly decided not to weigh in again.
Pettis asked for a bigger payday for the new fight but his request was denied by the UFC, according to Karyn Bryant of FOX Sports. Paul Felder, who was scheduled to fight Iaquinta, was also of interest to replace Holloway, but the New York Commission wouldn't allow it, leaving Iaquinta as the replacement.
The full results are listed below, courtesy MMA Mania:
Main Card
- Khabib Nurmagomedov (154.5) vs. Al Iaquinta (155.2)
- Rose Namajunas (114.2) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (114)
- Renato Moicano (145.6) vs. Calvin Kattar (145.4)
- Zabit Magomedsharipov (145.8) vs. Kyle Bochniak (145.2)
- Joe Lauzon (155.4) vs. Chris Gruetzemacher (155)
Preliminaries
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz (115) vs. Felice Herrig (115.4)
- Bec Rawlings (125.8) vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith (125.8)
- Evan Dunham (155.8) vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier (145.8)
- Devin Clark (205.2) vs. Mike Rodriguez (203)
Paul Felder (155) and Anthony Pettis (155.2) both made weight, but will not compete on the card.