In California, fighters have their weights checked on the day of their fights – not just when they have to hit their marks on the scale.
In 2017, the California State Athletic Commission put a plan in place to try to cut back on excessive weight cutting. Within those rules was a cap on how much a fighter could gain from the official weigh-ins to the fight.
If a fighter gained more than 10 percent back before the bout, the commission then could make a recommendation that he or she move to a higher weight class. If a fighter gained more than 15 percent, the commission had plans in place to potentially cancel fights.
At UFC 298, which took place Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., 11 of the 24 fighters on the card gained more than 10 percent of their weight back. Six of 11 exceeded the 15 percent threshold. MMA Junkie on Tuesday obtained a list of fight-night weights from the CSAC.
Check out the weight gains and percentages for all 24 fighters on the card.
Andrea Lee
Weigh-in day: 125.5
Fight night: 136.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick
Weigh-in day: 126
Fight night: 135.8
Gain: 8 percent
Result: Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Valentine Woodburn
Weigh-in day: 169.5
Fight night: 184
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Oban Elliott
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 185.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Josh Quinlan
Weigh-in day: 169
Fight night: 187.8
Gain: 11 percent
Result: Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:18
Danny Barlow
Weigh-in day: 171
Fight night: 197.8
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:18
Brendson Ribeiro
Weigh-in day: 205.6
Fight night: 219.6
Gain: 7 percent
Result: Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:41
Zhang Mingyang
Weigh-in day: 204.5
Fight night: 230.2
Gain: 13 percent
Result: Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:41
Carlos Vera
Weigh-in day: 135.5
Fight night: 158.6
Gain: 17 percent
Result: Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rinya Nakamura
Weigh-in day: 135.5
Fight night: 147.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Junior Tafa
Weigh-in day: 249
Fight night: 247
Gain: -1 percent
Result: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via TKO (leg kicks, punches) – Round 2, 1:14
Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Weigh-in day: 261.5
Fight night: 273.4
Gain: 5 percent
Result: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via TKO (leg kicks, punches) – Round 2, 1:14
Mackenzie Dern
Weigh-in day: 116
Fight night: 127
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amanda Lemos
Weigh-in day: 115.5
Fight night: 123.8
Gain: 7 percent
Result: Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Roman Kopylov
Weigh-in day: 185
Fight night: 194
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:23
Anthony Hernandez
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 203.6
Gain: 10 percent
Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:23
Henry Cejudo
Weigh-in day: 135
Fight night: 150.6
Gain: 12 percent
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Merab Dvalishvili
Weigh-in day: 135
Fight night: 156.8
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Geoff Neal
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 200.8
Gain: 18 percent
Result: Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Ian Machado Garry
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 180.6
Gain: 6 percent
Result: Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Paulo Costa
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 215.2
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Robert Whittaker
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 207.6
Gain: 12 percent
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Alexander Volkanovski
Weigh-in day: 144.5
Fight night: 166.2
Gain: 15 percent
Result: Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
Ilia Topuria
Weigh-in day: 144.5
Fight night: 167.2
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.