Quick Read
- Aaron Tau’s flyweight bout against Namsrai Batbayar at UFC 325 was canceled due to a weigh-in mishap.
- Tau initially weighed 122.25 lbs with a privacy curtain, then 129 lbs without it, exceeding the 125 lbs limit.
- The incident drew comparisons to Daniel Cormier’s controversial ‘towel trick’ at UFC 210.
- Main event fighters Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, along with co-main Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis, successfully made weight.
SYDNEY (Azat TV) – A flyweight bout scheduled for UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia, was officially canceled on Friday after New Zealand fighter Aaron Tau failed to make weight under controversial circumstances. Tau, a finalist in the Road To UFC tournament, initially registered an unusually low weight during the official weigh-ins, prompting officials to demand a re-weigh without his attempt to use a privacy curtain for leverage, ultimately revealing he was significantly over the limit.
The incident, which occurred ahead of Saturday’s main event featuring Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, has cast a shadow over the preliminary card and reignited discussions about fighter conduct and the integrity of the weigh-in process. The UFC confirmed the cancellation of Tau’s fight against Namsrai Batbayar shortly after the weigh-in fiasco.
The Controversial Weigh-in Attempt
Aaron Tau was the last fighter to step onto the scales during the official weigh-in window in Sydney. Concealed behind a fabric box, typically used by fighters to shed the weight of their clothes, Tau initially registered 122.25 pounds, which was 3.75 pounds under the flyweight limit of 125 pounds. This surprisingly low figure immediately raised suspicions among commentators Chris Weidman and RJ Clifford, who noted that such a significant under-weight reading while using the curtain was highly unusual, as the device is typically employed for tight weight cuts, not for appearing lighter than expected, according to BBC Sport.
UFC officials then instructed Tau to re-weigh without the privacy box. Upon his second attempt, Tau weighed in at 129 pounds, a full three pounds over the flyweight limit. This dramatic swing from 3.75 pounds under to three pounds over confirmed suspicions of an attempt to manipulate the scales. Closer inspection of the initial weigh-in footage appeared to show Tau placing his elbows on the box, a technique that would allow him to bear some of his weight, thereby artificially lowering the reading on the scale, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Echoes of Past Weigh-in Tactics
The controversial weigh-in immediately drew comparisons to a similar incident involving former light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 210 in 2017. During that event, Cormier, needing to make the 205-pound limit for his title fight against Anthony Johnson, initially weighed 1.2 pounds over. He then returned to the scales moments later, holding onto a towel being held by UFC officials, and successfully registered exactly 205 pounds. Cormier later admitted he ‘may have grabbed the towel’ to relieve excess weight, though he faced no sanctions from the New York State Athletic Commission at the time.
Unlike Cormier, Tau’s alleged attempt was caught and resulted in immediate consequences. For fighters like Tau, who was competing in the Road to UFC tournament finals, missing weight typically incurs a penalty of 30% of their fight purse and disqualification from any performance bonuses, including the new $25,000 finishing bonus. The cancellation of his fight against Namsrai Batbayar means a significant loss of opportunity and earnings.
Impact on the UFC 325 Card
The cancellation of the Aaron Tau vs. Namsrai Batbayar bout marks a significant disruption, particularly for the Road to UFC tournament, of which this fight was a final. While the preliminary card has been adjusted, the main event and co-main event fighters successfully made weight without incident. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski weighed in at 144.5 pounds, and his opponent, Diego Lopes, hit the championship limit at 145 pounds for their highly anticipated rematch. Co-main event lightweights Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis also successfully registered their weights, both utilizing the one-pound allowance for non-title fights at 155.75 pounds, according to MMA Mania.
Other main card fighters, including Rafael Fiziev, Mauricio Ruffy, Tai Tuivasa, and Tallison Teixeira, also made weight, ensuring their bouts proceed as planned. The focus now shifts to the remaining fights and the implications for Aaron Tau’s career, with questions arising about potential further sanctions from the Australian commission and his standing with the UFC.
Tau’s Future and Weigh-in Integrity
Aaron Tau’s future in the UFC remains uncertain following this incident. Beyond the immediate cancellation and financial penalties, the public nature of the alleged weigh-in manipulation could lead to more severe long-term consequences for his career. The UFC has a history of taking a firm stance on integrity issues, and such an overt attempt to circumvent rules could jeopardize his prospects with the promotion.
The incident at UFC 325 underscores the persistent challenge of weigh-in integrity in mixed martial arts, highlighting how the intense pressure to make weight can sometimes lead to desperate measures. While regulatory bodies and promotions strive for fairness, fighters continue to seek advantages, necessitating constant vigilance to maintain the sport’s competitive standards.