The atmosphere at the UFC 320 weigh-ins was tense, raising concerns about the co-main event. After facing off with Cory Sandhagen, Merab Dvalishvili had one final crucial step before their Saturday night bout. `The Machine` is set to defend his bantamweight title for the third time this year at the T-Mobile Arena on October 4. While many anticipate Dvalishvili`s victory despite his challenger`s formidable threat, initial signs suggested potential difficulties before the fight officially began.
Merab Dvalishvili Successfully Makes Weight After Tense Delays at UFC 320 Weigh-ins
Ahead of his third title defense, some consider Merab Dvalishvili the greatest bantamweight ever. Although a victory on Saturday would bolster this claim, concerns arose during the weigh-ins that the fight might not proceed. An issue seemed to arise as the Nevada State Athletic Commission took an unusually long time to register Dvalishvili`s weight on the scale. `The Machine` was asked to step off and then back onto the scale, causing nervous reactions among live observers due to the extended wait for his official weight. Following a further delay, a privacy curtain was provided for Dvalishvili to disrobe, and moments later, his weight was officially announced at precisely 135 pounds. Cory Sandhagen, having weighed in earlier at 134.5 pounds, had already made his part of the co-main event official.
Both Title Fights Confirmed for UFC 320; One Bout Rescheduled to Catchweight, One Weight Miss
Thankfully for fans, the status of both championship bouts scheduled for Saturday was confirmed early during the weigh-in period. Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira successfully made the light heavyweight limit for their main event rematch on October 4. Only one fighter missed weight: Macy Chiasson, who initially weighed 138 pounds for her bantamweight fight against Yana Santos. After using the privacy curtain, Chiasson registered 137.5 pounds, giving her an hour to reach the 136-pound limit. A notable alteration was made to Daniel Santos’ featherweight bout against Yoo Joo-Sang, which will now proceed as a 153-pound catchweight. Santos weighed in at 151 pounds, while his opponent was 152.5 pounds. The reason for the last-minute shift from the 145-pound featherweight limit has not yet been disclosed.
