UFC 325 and UFC Vegas 113 Marred by Multiple Weigh-in Incidents
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes successfully made weight for their featherweight championship main event rematch at UFC 325, scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia. However, the event was marked by the cancellation of Aaron Tau's Road to UFC flyweight final bout after he failed to meet the weight limit following an irregular weigh-in attempt. Separately, UFC Vegas 113 recorded four instances of fighters missing their contracted weight, leading to catchweight adjustments and financial penalties for some participants.
"The string of weigh-in issues highlights ongoing challenges for fighters in meeting their contracted weight, affecting event schedules and athlete careers."
UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes Rematch Set in Sydney
UFC 325 is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. The official weigh-ins for the event took place on January 30, 2026.
The main event features UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski (144.5 pounds) defending his title against Diego Lopes (145 pounds) in a rematch. Volkanovski previously defeated Lopes by unanimous decision at UFC 314. The co-main event is a lightweight contest between Dan Hooker (155.75 pounds) and Benoit Saint Denis (155.75 pounds).
Broadcast Schedule for UFC 325:
- Early Prelims: 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT
- Prelims: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
- Main Card: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT on Paramount+
Aaron Tau's Disqualification: A Road to UFC Dream Halted
Aaron Tau was the only fighter at UFC 325 to miss weight, failing to meet the 126-pound limit for his Road to UFC Season 4 flyweight tournament final bout against Namsrai Batbayar (126 pounds).
During his initial weigh-in attempt, Tau utilized a privacy box and registered 122.5 pounds. Following observations from commission officials, a second weigh-in without the screen was requested. On this subsequent attempt, Tau weighed in at 129 pounds, exceeding the flyweight limit. As a result, his bout against Namsrai Batbayar was canceled.
Tau later issued a statement via Instagram, apologizing to his opponent, the UFC, his team, and his fans, acknowledging his failure to make weight.
"A later report indicated that Tau's actions resulted in his release and the forfeiture of a UFC contract opportunity."
UFC Vegas 113: Multiple Weight Misses Impact Card
UFC Vegas 113, which took place in the week following UFC 325, saw four fighters miss weight during its official weigh-ins:
- Muin Gafurov: Weighed 141 pounds for a bantamweight contest, exceeding the 136-pound limit by five pounds. His fight against Jakub Wiklacz (135.5 pounds) proceeded as a catchweight bout, with Gafurov forfeiting 25 percent of his purse.
- Gianni Vazquez: Weighed 141 pounds for a bantamweight bout, also five pounds over the limit. Vazquez, a short-notice replacement, faced Javid Basharat (135.5 pounds) in a catchweight bout and forfeited 25 percent of his purse.
- Wang Cong and Eduarda Moura: Both missed weight for their scheduled bout. Wang Cong weighed 127.5 pounds, and Eduarda Moura weighed 127 pounds. Their contest proceeded as a catchweight, with neither fighter incurring a purse penalty.
Despite these issues, the bantamweight headliners for UFC Vegas 113, Mario Bautista (135.5 pounds) and Vinicius Oliveira (136 pounds), both successfully made weight for their main event bout.
Broader Concerns: Other Recent Weigh-in Cancellations
These recent weigh-in issues follow another incident earlier in 2026. At UFC 324 on January 24, Cameron Smotherman's bout against Ricky Turcios was canceled after Smotherman fainted following his weigh-in attempt.
Official Weigh-in Results: Key Bouts
UFC 325 Main Card:
- Alexander Volkanovski (144.5) vs. Diego Lopes (145)
- Dan Hooker (155.75) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (155.75)
- Rafael Fiziev (155.5) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155.25)
- Tai Tuivasa (265.5) vs. Tallison Teixeira (259)
- Quillan Salkilld (155.5) vs. Jamie Mullarkey (155.5)
UFC 325 Early Prelims (Road to UFC Final - Flyweight):
- Aaron Tau (129)* vs. Namsrai Batbayar (126) — Bout Cancelled
UFC Vegas 113 Main Card:
- Mario Bautista (135.5) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (136)
UFC Vegas 113 Preliminary Card (Bouts with Weight Misses):
- Javid Basharat (135.5) vs. Gianni Vazquez (141) — Catchweight, Vazquez forfeited 25% purse
- Eduarda Moura (127) vs. Wang Cong (127.5) — Catchweight, no purse penalty
- Jakub Wiklacz (135.5) vs. Muin Gafurov (141) — Catchweight, Gafurov forfeited 25% purse