Rafael Alves has bout with Pat Sabatini cancelled after missing weight by almost a FULL STONE in UFC record – as featherweight fighter blames dodgy SALMON for weigh-in fiasco
- Brazilian Rafael Alves was expected to fight American Pat Sabatini on Saturday
- But the 30-year-old exceeded the 145lb mark, weighing in at 157.5lb
- It exceeded Anthony Johnson’s weigh-in in January 2012 ahead of UFC 142
- But the Brazilian said dodgy salmon he had eaten the day before was the reason
Rafael Alves claimed an unwanted UFC record after missing weight by almost a full stone ahead of his expected fight against Pat Sabatini.
The Brazilian’s featherweight fight against his American counterpart on Saturday night has now been scrapped following an embarrassing weigh-in.
Alves, 30, exceeded the 145lb mark by some distance, coming in at 157.5lb – some 11.5lb above – ahead of UFC Vegas 19.
Rafael Alves claimed an unwanted UFC record after missing weight by almost a full stone
His weigh-in therefore exceeded that of Anthony Johnson – the previous holder of the record – who in January 2012 came in at a whopping 197lb, 11lb over the contractual limit of 186lb ahead of UFC 142 against Vitor Belfort.
Alves firstly addressed the fiasco on the scales on his Instagram, citing problems with his health as the reason behind missing weight.
‘Guys, I fell ill during my weight cut and my fight was cancelled. I’m sorry, but my health above everything,’ he wrote.
But then speaking to MMA Fighting, Alves claimed he had eaten dodgy salmon the day before which had caused him to fall ill and rehydrate his body to treat the issue.
‘I ate salmon yesterday and fell ill, [had] vomit and diarrhea, so the doctor said I had to treat it with [drinking] water,’ he said.
Alves, 30, exceeded the 145lb mark by some distance, coming in at 157.5lb – some 11.5lb above
‘I only had 2kg [4.4 pounds] left to cut, [but] when I drank water my weight went up and got stuck, so the doctor didn’t clear me to fight.
‘But God owns everything and He knows what He does.’
The Brazilian however is confident the UFC will not axe him, but informed matchmaker Sean Selby that he will look to compete as a lightweight going forward.
‘Sean Shelby said that health is what matters now.
‘He told me this has happened to champions before, and told name to fight at 155 and come back stronger.
He has informed matchmaker Sean Selby he will look to compete as a lightweight from now on
‘They won’t cut me because they had to change opponents and they were searching for a new one, some said they would fight at 155 and others at 145, so I didn’t focus on the guy I was fighting nor my weight.
‘But I’m going to fight at 155 now. I’m focused and nothing will stop me.
‘I know a lot of people are criticising me, but I don’t care. Jesus was God’s son and he was criticised despite all his power, so imagine me, a flawed man on Earth?
‘But thank God the UFC hasn’t said they will cut me, so I’ll be back soon. They said I’m a showman that will give the UFC a lot of profit.’