Charles Oliveira stripped of lightweight crown after weight miss ahead of UFC 274

Charles ‘Do Bronx’ Oliveira has officially been stripped of the undisputed UFC lightweight championship ahead of tomorrow’s UFC 274 headliner with the #1 ranked challenger, Justin Gaethje – after he tipped the lightweight scales by half a pound at today’s official weigh-ins.

Oliveira, who was attempting to land the second successful defense of his reign as lightweight champion, had previously submitted common-foe, Dustin Poirier with a standing rear-naked choke win at UFC 269 in December.

However, in this evening’s turn of events, the Sao Paulo finisher has now been officially stripped of the undisputed title ahead of tomorrow’s main event clash with former interim gold holder, Gaethje in Phoenix, Arizona after he missed weight at a third step to the scales.

Initially the Brazilian had stepped on the scales at 156lbs, a pound over championship weight. Soon thereafter, Oliveira was accompanied to the scales by a privacy box, stepping on at 155.5lbs at the second attempt – a half pound over the championship limit.

Given an additional hour in order to attempt to hit the championship weight limit of 155lbs, Oliveira made his way to the scale for the final time just before the turn of the hour in the ‘Copper State’, however, stepped on at 155.5lbs again – resulting in his official stripping as the undisputed lightweight champion. 

A UFC official then confirmed that the protocol for Oliveira’s weight miss would see the lightweight title officially vacant, with Oliveira stripped, and the #1 ranked contender, Gaethje now the only fighter between the two eligible to fight for gold tomorrow at UFC 274.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.