UFC 279: Nate Diaz to fight Tony Ferguson in new main event after chaotic Khamzat Chimaev scale fail
- The line-up for Sunday’s main card looks completely different than it did 24 hours ago thanks to a colossal weight miss from rising star Chimaev
- Drama caused opponent changes for six fighters, including Chinese welterweight Li Jingliang, who now meets Daniel Rodriguez
UFC 279 will be remembered as one of the most chaotic events in the company’s history, and that is not hyperbole.
One day after a skirmish erupted backstage at the customary pre-fight press conference, which was ultimately cancelled as a result, the event’s main card was completely transformed by weigh-in drama.
It all surrounded Chechen-based Swede Khamzat Chimaev, one of the UFC’s brightest young stars, who was slated to meet fan favourite veteran Nate Diaz in the card’s five-round welterweight main event.
When Chimaev stepped onto the scale on Friday morning in Las Vegas, he weighed in at 178.5 pounds – 7.5lbs above the welterweight limit, which Diaz hit exactly.
Chimaev’s scale fail, which freelance MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reported was because of a medical issue, thrust the card’s planned headliner into jeopardy, and sent UFC brass scrambling for a solution.
After hours of conspicuous silence, company president Dana White finally took to Instagram Live at 3pm local time to clear up the situation. The fallout was significant and far-reaching.
Diaz will now meet former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, who was slated to meet China’s Li Jingliang at welterweight in the co-main event, in the main card’s new headlining attraction, also at welterweight.