Charles Oliveira has struggled throughout his career to make weight, so it was not stunning on Friday when he missed weight by a half-pound for his planned lightweight title defense with Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 274 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
He earned the ignominious distinction of becoming the first reigning UFC champion to lose his belt at the scale. The fight will go on, as Gaethje hit 155. If Gaethje wins, he’s champion. If Oliveira wins, the belt will be vacant.
What is strange is that Oliveira didn’t make every last-ditch effort he could to make it.