The interim (interim) featherweight title fight at UFC 206 is in jeopardy.
Anthony Pettis did not make the contracted weight limit of 145 pounds during the two-hour window of the morning weigh-ins. As such, he is ineligible to win the belt, as the fight will proceed. Only Holloway will have a chance to wear the gold. Pettis was also fined 20% of his purse.
I'm told the fight is still on. Holloway, if he wins, gets interim title. Pettis won't if he wins. He also gives up 20% of his purse to Max.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 9, 2016
@MikeChiappetta If Pettis wins, Aldo should automatically become the interim champ as well….becoming a two title holder.
— Matt Brown (@MattBrownM2) December 9, 2016
The first fighter to take to the scale in the morning was Viviane Pereira, who takes on Valerie Letourneau in her UFC debut.
One of the most intriguing fighters, in terms of weighing in, was Kelvin Gastelum. Gastelum failed to make the welterweight limit at UFC 205 and was pulled from the event. He now moves back to middleweight for a fight against Tim Kennedy. Gastelum was on weight at 185 pounds for his contest against Kennedy.
Jordan Mein returns after more than a year away from the sport for a bout against Emil Meek. He stepped on the scale early on as well.
In total, 10 fighters made weight within the first 30 minutes of the 9 a.m. ET call time.
Holloway was the first of the main eventers to hit the scale, and he hit 145 flat.
Rustam Khabilov hit the scale at 158.5 pounds, which was over the lightweight limit.
Just before 10 a.m. ET, the news came in that Pettis would not make the weight, although he had yet to arrive to weigh-in. MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani was the first to report the news.
Anthony Pettis is the first fighter to miss weight for a UFC championship bout since Travis Lutter at UFC 67 in February 2007.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) December 9, 2016
Pettis officially stepped on the scale at 10:21 a.m. ET and weighed 148 pounds. He didn’t hold a pose as requested, and he immediately exited the way he came. He was not pleased as one could expect.
Anthony Pettis, according to sources, is having a lot trouble making weight. As of now, it looks like he won't make 145. Stay tuned.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 9, 2016
Letourneau was the final fighter to tip the scale. She stepped on the scale with under 10 minutes remaining on the clock and weighed in at 117.5 pounds, putting her over the limit.
