UFC fighters demand procedural overhaul following Chimaev weigh-in controversy
Following Khamzat Chimaev's weigh-in for UFC 328, several fighters are urging officials to adopt digital scales to ensure greater transparency and accuracy in future weigh-ins.
UFC fighters have publicly called for a change to the official weigh-in procedure following Khamzat Chimaev's weigh-in for UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The controversy centres on the method used to determine the fighter's weight, with several combatants alleging that the New Jersey State Athletic Commission did not allow sufficient time for the hang scale to settle before announcing the result.
Chimaev, who reportedly needed to cut 46 pounds for his middleweight title defence against Sean Strickland, was the last to step on the scale during the Friday morning session. He appeared to clock in at 185 pounds immediately upon stepping on the device. Fighters and commentators suggest that the rapid confirmation of this figure indicates the scale had not yet stabilised, raising concerns that the athlete received special treatment or that the reading was inaccurate.
In response to the incident, several fighters, including Tim Elliott and Aljamain Sterling, are urging officials to switch from the current tip scales to digital scales. These digital units are already utilised during internal testing in the back room before fighters proceed to the public weigh-in stage. The athletes argue that adopting the same technology for the official weigh-in would eliminate discrepancies and ensure a consistent standard across all events.
Commentator Dustin Poirier highlighted the issue on social media, noting that the scale did not have time to balance before the 185-pound reading was announced. He described the equipment as a hang scale, emphasising that such devices require a period to stabilise before a valid measurement can be taken. This observation has added weight to the fighters' demands for a more robust verification process.
The New Jersey State Athletic Commission was present during the weigh-in and reportedly confirmed the 185-pound reading quickly. However, observers claim this confirmation was issued before the scale fully settled, a practice that contradicts standard protocols for ensuring accuracy. The controversy has emerged specifically regarding the lack of time allotted for the scale to stabilise after Chimaev stepped on it.
While previous weigh-ins for the event reportedly proceeded without issue, Chimaev's specific instance has drawn significant scrutiny. The call for reform suggests a broader dissatisfaction with the traditional weighing methods used by athletic commissions, with fighters seeking a system that mirrors the precision of their internal preparations.
