UFC 263: drama as Deiveson Figueiredo weighs in with just 40 seconds left
- Flyweight champ requires towel box but strikes the 125-pound limit just in time to save title bout against Brandon Moreno
- Brad Riddell makes weight right on the dot, too, but Steven Peterson misses and will be fined 20 per cent of purse
The UFC 263 official weigh-ins provided plenty of late drama, with Deiveson Figueiredo making the cut-off point by less than a minute.
Israel Adesanya and flyweight king Figueiredo were among the final five fighters left to tip the scales with 25 minutes remaining in Glendale, Arizona, with Saturday’s two title fights seemingly in possible danger.
Typically underweight when finalising his cuts, Friday morning was no different for “The Last Stylebender”, however, and 183.5 pounds was the official weight for the middleweight kingpin right at the one-hour mark, leaving Steven Peterson, Brad Riddell, and Figueiredo as the wire-walkers.
All needing the towel box, there was a scare for Figueiredo, who once again battles the top contender from Mexico, Brandon Moreno, in the co-main event at the Gila River Arena.
The 33-year old Brazilian, who is known to cut a large amount of weight, missed in his first crack at the gold opposite Joseph Benavidez in February 2020.
It didn’t matter this time around as the 125-pound limit was struck just in time by “Deus Da Guerra” with 40 seconds left in the weigh-in window.
