Last-Minute Weight Change for Aldo vs. Zahabi at UFC 315
In an unexpected turn of events, the bantamweight bout between former UFC champion José Aldo and Aiemann Zahabi has been moved to the featherweight category at the last minute, due to Aldo’s difficulties in making weight.
On Friday, Aldo (32-9) weighed in at 143 pounds, showing evident wear and tear during the weigh-in. For his part, Zahabi (12-2) felt comfortable weighing in at 142 pounds moments later. Both fighters were scheduled to face each other at UFC 315.
Zahabi revealed that UFC informed him about Aldo’s complications in losing weight. In addition, he shared a video where he is seen dropping to 136 pounds before rehydrating to 142.
The fight, now at featherweight, is still on. It remains unclear whether this will lead Aldo to reconsider his weight class in the future, considering he fought much of his career at 145 pounds, before dropping to 135 in 2019.
In the main event on Saturday night, UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena. In the co-main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will put her belt on the line against Manon Fiorot. The event will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
