Retroactively Recognize Title Defenses Where Challengers Missed Weight

[NovaJon93]

In recent years, the UFC seems to have adopted an arrangement in which missed weight in a title fight will only penalize the fighter missing weight. This allows the defending champ or challenger to still maintain eligibility to defend/win the title despite their opponent not making weight. Somewhat recent examples would include Oliveira vs Gaethje, Khabib vs Iaquinta, and Figueiredo vs Benevidez I.

However, there have been three instances where defending champions were robbed of the opportunity to have their win recognized as a title defense by way of the fight changing to a non-title fight as a direct consequence of the challenger missing weight: Matt Hughes vs Joe Riggs, Anderson Silva vs Travis Lutter, and Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero II.

Although the Hughes and Silva fights were changed to three rounds, it'd be cool to see the UFC recognize these as defenses (similarly to how they chose to recognize Ludwig's KO of Goulet to be the fastest KO until Masvidal beat the record, despite the official timekeeping discrepancy). Plus, Hughes and Silva finished their opponents within the distance while Whittaker won via decision in a five-round fight.

Now that the precedent has been set to proceed with only penalizing the fighter missing weight, they should correct these three instances to allow for uniformity going forward while cleaning up the record books. This would have history-making ramifications as one more title defense would tie Silva with DJ for most consecutive title defenses at 11, strengthen Hughes' legacy as second best WW with 10 title fight wins, and would give Whittaker one official title defense as he currently has none.

Not the biggest deal the UFC could surely choose to retroactively recognize these and further bolster the legacy of those fighters.

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

 

[Sincere Guy]

Charles didn't miss any weight, he was robbed.

 

[FrankDux]

Charles didn't miss any weight, he was robbed.

While Khabib got a little home-cooking...crazy stuff. Really puts things into perspective when we saw Khabib's reaction. Like, he already made his mind up he wasn't going to make weight and he knew he'd have to fight again (after telling his mom no) but he didn't expect the home cooking.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Should we also change Rampage v Arona and/or Couture v Gonzaga to NC, because of Hernandez v Bondar?

PS the Hughes v Riggs weigh in was (might have been, we'll never know) a travesty of justice, but not for the reasons OP outlined.

 

[Mammothman]

Whittaker deserved a title defense after that brutal war with Romero especially since Whittaker made weight, it was BS and it really triggers me it doesn't count

 

[Sticko]

It's unfortunate but the reason these fights are not title defenses is that the title is not on the line.

If the challenger can't win the title, then the champion can't lose the title. And if the champion can't lose the title, how can he defend it?

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

In recent years, the UFC seems to have adopted an arrangement in which missed weight in a title fight will only penalize the fighter missing weight. This allows the defending champ or challenger to still maintain eligibility to defend/win the title despite their opponent not making weight. Somewhat recent examples would include Oliveira vs Gaethje, Khabib vs Iaquinta, and Figueiredo vs Benevidez I.

However, there have been three instances where defending champions were robbed of the opportunity to have their win recognized as a title defense by way of the fight changing to a non-title fight as a direct consequence of the challenger missing weight: Matt Hughes vs Joe Riggs, Anderson Silva vs Travis Lutter, and Robert Whittaker vs Yoel Romero II.

Although the Hughes and Silva fights were changed to three rounds, it'd be cool to see the UFC recognize these as defenses (similarly to how they chose to recognize Ludwig's KO of Goulet to be the fastest KO until Masvidal beat the record, despite the official timekeeping discrepancy). Plus, Hughes and Silva finished their opponents within the distance while Whittaker won via decision in a five-round fight.

Now that the precedent has been set to proceed with only penalizing the fighter missing weight, they should correct these three instances to allow for uniformity going forward while cleaning up the record books. This would have history-making ramifications as one more title defense would tie Silva with DJ for most consecutive title defenses at 11, strengthen Hughes' legacy as second best WW with 10 title fight wins, and would give Whittaker one official title defense as he currently has none.

Not the biggest deal the UFC could surely choose to retroactively recognize these and further bolster the legacy of those fighters.

I'm all for it

Then u please can get Dan's win over Fedor changed to NC because of shots to the back of the head thx

 

[Blanqa Blanqua]

It's unfortunate but the reason these fights are not title defenses is that the title is not on the line.

If the challenger can't win the title, then the champion can't lose the title. And if the champion can't lose the title, how can he defend it?

It's like P4P.

You gotta use your imagination a little bit.

 

[sdpdude9]

The reason they’re not recognized as title defenses is because the champion cannot lose the title. It’s that simple. It is what it is.

 

[AmericanMMA]

Chael got fucked in the WEC. He smoked champion Paulo Filho, but since Paulo missed weight it was not a title shot and Chael was never a champ in any major organization.

 

[Sticko]

Chael got fucked in the WEC. He smoked champion Paulo Filho, but since Paulo missed weight it was not a title shot and Chael was never a champ in any major organization.

Yes that was unfair and I believe would not have happened under today's standards.

Gaethje would have won the title if he'd beaten Charles.

 

[Local Plata]

Chael got fucked in the WEC. He smoked champion Paulo Filho, but since Paulo missed weight it was not a title shot and Chael was never a champ in any major organization.

Yeah unfortunate, but that was one of the weirdest fucking fights I've ever seen. I think Chael said Paulo mailed him the belt though, pretty classy all things considered.

 

[Snake_bite]

While Khabib got a little home-cooking...crazy stuff. Really puts things into perspective when we saw Khabib's reaction. Like, he already made his mind up he wasn't going to make weight and he knew he'd have to fight again (after telling his mom no) but he didn't expect the home cooking.

ya'll love bringing up Khabib but never this

 

[xn7]

IThis would have history-making ramifications as one more title defense would tie Silva with DJ for most consecutive title defenses at 11, strengthen Hughes' legacy as second best WW with 10 title fight wins, and would give Whittaker one official title defense as he currently has none.

Not the biggest deal the UFC could surely choose to retroactively recognize these and further bolster the legacy of those fighters.

Legacy? How about they retroactively go back and delete all the wins that PED users have gotten from the record books instead. Anderson Silva sitting at a pretty 0 wins in the UFC. Now all turned to losses.