5 UFC fighters who cut incredible amounts of weight

#4. Jose Aldo (UFC bantamweight)

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo raised eyebrows when he moved down to the bantamweight division. Doubts about the Brazilian's ability to meet the limit of 135 pounds were not unfounded. He had difficulty making weight for his fight against Max Holloway at UFC 218 while competing as a featherweight.

Aldo has walked around at 170 pounds for the majority of his career. So, to compete at bantamweight, he needs to cut approximately 35 pounds, about 20 percent of his total body weight.

But the Brazilian has proved many wrong by making the bantamweight weigh-in limit multiple times over the last couple of years.

Before his fight against Petr Yan for the bantamweight title at UFC 251, the former 145-pound champion revealed it had been easier for him to cut down to 135 pounds than it was to cut down to 145.

“I’m happy to be a part of this, and the cut for 135 has actually been a lot easier than it was at 145. We adapted everything for me to move down in weight so my nutrition and everything else, and I really feel like I rejuvenated my body. It gave me a lot of energy, so I’m keeping my weight down more than I was before, and so that cut down to 135, I’m still feeling a lot better after that cut.”

Aldo's last fight took place in December 2020. He defeated Marlon Vera via decision in the bantamweight bout.

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#3. Paulo Costa (UFC middleweight)

One fighter who has long been considered too big for his weight class is former middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa. The California State Athletic Commission advised Costa to move up a weight class ahead of his fight against Yoel Romero at UFC 241.

But surprisingly, 'The Eraser' has never missed weight in his entire UFC career. A month and a half before his fight with Israel Adesanya at UFC 253, 'Borrachinha' walked around at 220 pounds. But Costa still cut 35 pounds to make championship weight for the UFC 253 main event.

So, it does not look like 'The Eraser' will be moving up a division anytime soon.