Christopher Ewert Fails to Make Weight as Ilia Topuria Wins
The UFC has a strict weight class system in place, and fighters who fail to make weight can face serious consequences, including cancellation of their fights and release from their contracts. The incident involving Ewert is a reminder of the importance of weight management in the sport, and the need for fighters to take a careful and sustainable approach to cutting weight.
Ilia Topuria has won the UFC lightweight champion title, defeating Charles Oliveira with a first-round knockout in their bout in Las Vegas, while Christopher Ewert was cut from UFC 317 after failing to make the middleweight limit.
Topuria's victory was a significant one, with referee Macco Goddard stopping the fight after the knockout. Meanwhile, Ewert's team had attempted to cut 22 pounds in just two days, but he began experiencing cramps and was unable to lose the final 3 pounds needed to make weight. As a result, the fight was cancelled and Ewert was released from his contract.
Ewert's coach, Javier Torres, explained that they had started the cut at 216 pounds and made significant progress, but ultimately fell short. Torres stated that they had tried extremely hard to make the weight, but it was not possible. The incident highlights the challenges that fighters can face when trying to make weight for a bout.
The UFC lightweight champion title is one of the most prestigious in the sport, and Topuria's victory is a significant achievement. However, the incident involving Ewert serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks that fighters can face in their attempts to compete at the highest level.