5 Times MMA fighters missed weight in a championship fight

#3 Joe Riggs vs Matt Hughes

Matt Hughes submitted Joe Riggs with a Kimura in the first round at UFC 56

The early 2000s were dominated by Matt Hughes - barring one loss to the legendary BJ Penn, Hughes had bulldozed through eight challengers, the last being Frank Trigg, who he had just beaten for the 2nd time in what Dana White's all-time favorite fight. Hughes was preparing for a 9th title defense against judoka Karo Parisyan, but a torn hamstring to the latter would scupper those plans and the formidable Joe Riggs stepped in on just 3 weeks notice.

The UFC 56 weigh-ins might be the most infamous in MMA history. Riggs weighed in at 171 pounds on his first attempt and this being a title fight, had to make 170 on the dot. Riggs spent an hour trying to shed the extra pound, but when he stepped on the scales for the second time, they showed that he had actually gained a pound. He returned after another half an hour, but the scales refused to budge from 172 pounds. Riggs had reached a breaking point and spat expletives, forcing UFC officials to intercede. The scales were examined and re-calibrated and Riggs, who had taken a sip of water because he was convinced the problem was solved, was now found to be at 172.5 pounds. So after a mind-boggling four failed attempts to make weight for Riggs, the bout was changed to a non-title fight, with Hughes easily submitting Riggs in the first round with a kimura.