Charles Oliveira has been stripped of the UFC lightweight title after missing weight ahead of his title fight with Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 in Phoenix on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Brazilian made repeated attempts to hit the 155-pound mark but came in half a pound over the lightweight limit, with the UFC subsequently announcing that the title would be vacated and that Oliveira would not be eligible to reclaim the title with a win on Saturday.
American Gaethje, who lost a previous lightweight title fight to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2020, made weight and will be crowned champion as he will be credited with a win over Oliveira.
The UFC did not confirm what fine Oliveira would face as a result of failing to make weight.
It marks the fourth time “Do Bronx’ has missed weight in his UFC career.
He won the lightweight title in May last year after knocking out Michael Chandler at UFC 262, which saw him secure the belt Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated after retiring from the sport two years ago.
Oliveira then made UFC history in retaining his belt in December, by becoming the man with the most submission wins after defeating Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 269.
However, Oliveira missing the weight mark has handed Gaethje a second chance at becoming undisputed lightweight champion, after falling to Nurmagomedov before the Russian quit.
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