Chimaev was the last fighter to step on the scales at the early UFC 308 weigh-ins, and UFC commentators were told his ability to make weight was in question.
The five round co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308 is official, but it was a close thing after Chimaev ended up weighing in with just 12 minutes to spare.
Early weigh-ins went down in the wee hours of the morning North America time, with Robert Whittaker being one of the first fighters to step on the scales. He weighed in at 185.5. As for Khamzat, he was the final fighter to come out and weigh in, but he did hit the 186 pound limit for a non-championship middleweight fight.
Fighters were told as the weigh-ins started that they were expected to hit the scales in the first hour of weigh-ins, and they would have to notify the commission if they were going to weigh in during a second hour. Team Chimaev opted for the second hour, and during the wait for his weight the UFC commentators covering the event were hearing there might be issues.
Khamzat Chimaev adds a bit of extra drama to the official UFC 308 weigh-ins, as he is the last fighter to step on the scale with only 13 minutes remaining—but all is good, as he makes weight at 186 lbs.
Whittaker vs Chimaev is official pic.twitter.com/AH2kXnoPn0
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) October 25, 2024
“Khamzat is one of those who has yet to weigh in,” Dan Hellie said. “We are hearing it’s going to be close. “We are just over an hour and five minutes to go so get your popcorn ready, buckle up, it’s almost every time, I think.”
Chimaev famously blew his weigh-in for UFC 279, forcing the card to undergo a musical chairs game of change. He was supposed to fight Nate Diaz at 170 pounds but ended up fighting Kevin Holland at a 180 pound catchweight. Then there was his withdrawal from a main event with Whittaker in Saudi Arabia in June due to illness.
Khamzat has said changes in coaching, nutrition, and training have him feeling great for this pivotal UFC 308 matchup against a very dangerous Whittaker. But the weigh-ins are where the rubber starts to hit the road, and already we’re left wondering whether Chimaev is driving with a flat tire.
In other UFC 308 controversies, lightweights Myktybek Orolbai and Mateusz Rebecki weighed in at 159 and 160 respectively for what is now a 160 pound catchweight fight. Victor Hugo vs. Farid Basharat was originally booked as a bantamweight bount. It will now be contested at featherweight after Hugo weighed in at 145.5. Basharat weighed in at 137.
For full UFC 308 weigh-in results, click here.