5 most controversial weight misses in UFC history

#4. Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort – UFC 142

Anthony Johnson didn't come close to reaching the 185lbs middleweight limit for his fight with Vitor Belfort

It seems hard to believe now, but when Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson debuted in MMA's premier promotion back in 2007, he did so as a welterweight. However, Johnson was always a hulking 170lber, and with a huge frame, making that weight limit was always going to be tricky for him.

By late 2011, while he’d only missed the 170-pound welterweight cut-off twice in 10 octagon appearances, ‘Rumble’ decided enough was enough and announced a move to 185 pounds. Booked against Vitor Belfort in the co-headliner of UFC 142, it felt like a potential fresh start for him.

Incredibly, though, when it was time to weigh in, not only did Johnson manage to miss the middleweight limit, he did so spectacularly.

After being advised by doctors to terminate his weight cut and rehydrate himself immediately, ‘Rumble’ stepped onto the scale at 197 pounds, 11 pounds over the limit. Belfort still agreed to fight him, but only if Johnson could weigh in at less than 205 pounds on the day of the event.

‘Rumble’ just about managed that, coming in at 204.2, but after losing via first-round rear-naked choke, he was released from his contract with the promotion, who’d clearly had enough of his shenanigans on the scale. He would not return for another two years – and when he did so, it was as a light heavyweight.

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#3. William Knight vs. Maxim Grishin – UFC 271

William Knight weighed in 12lbs over the light-heavyweight limit for his fight with Maxim Grishin, setting an unwanted UFC record

While William Knight’s fight with Maxim Grishin was essentially a throwaway preliminary bout at UFC 271, it quickly turned out to be that event’s most controversial fight. That’s because Knight somehow missed weight by an incredible 12 pounds, making it the biggest weight miss in UFC history.

To be fair to ‘The Knightmare’, he did have somewhat of an excuse, which probably saved him from the chop from the promotion after he lost the bout by unanimous decision.

The graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series wasn’t actually pegged to fight on the card and only stepped in to replace the injured Ed Herman on around two weeks’ notice, meaning he likely didn’t have the chance to perform a proper weight cut.

However, to miss weight by a full 12 pounds was essentially beyond the pale, and it was somewhat of a surprise to see Grishin accept the bout at heavyweight after weighing in bang on the limit at 206 pounds..

Interestingly, since the incident, Knight has not attempted to cut down to 205 pounds again, instead remaining at heavyweight for his recent loss to Devin Clark. In that fight, ‘The Knightmare’ weighed in at 251 pounds, some 33 pounds heavier than he’d been for the fight with Grishin.