UFC on ABC 4 has lost a lightweight matchup.
Natan Levy(8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) vs. Pete Rodriguez (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is off Saturday’s prelims at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., due to weight management issues on Rodriguez’s side.
UFC officials announced the fight’s removal during the official weigh-ins at the UFC host hotel, and Levy announced the news in a post on Instagram, as well.
A furious Levy took aim at Rodriguez for failing to make it to the scale.
“Guys I’m really sorry,
Fight is off, Fat Pete couldn’t get anywhere near the weight.He blew my opportunity to perform, earn a bonus & make history tomorrow, He probably killed his own career.
Extremely unprofessional.Anyone that bought a ticket,
I’m really sorry, I will go to the event and would love to meet you.”
Additionally, Levy posted that Rodriguez’s side first asked for a 158-pound contract weight, which Levy said he agreed to. They he was asked for 160 pounds, which he said he agreed to, as well. But Levy then said Rodriguez quit cutting weight at 162 pounds, still 2 pounds shy of what he’d need for 160 pounds, and 6 pounds of the non-title lightweight limit.
Just to be clear, we were scheduled to fight at 155(+1),
They asked for a catchweight so I agreed to fight him at 158, then they asked for 160 and I said Yes. I was about to go weigh in when I heard he was crying and losing his shit and quit at 162.
If you can cry you still got…— Natan Levy ✡︎ (@Natan_Levy) May 12, 2023
This is the second time Rodriguez has withdrawn from a scheduled bout with Levy. The pair was booked to square off two weeks ago at UFC on ESPN 45, but Rodriguez pulled out due to illness.
With the change, the UFC on ABC 4 lineup now includes:
MAIN CARD (ABC/ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
- Jailton Almeida vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker
- Ian Machado Garry vs. Daniel Rodriguez
- Mackenzie Dern vs. Angela Hill
- Tim Means vs. Alex Morono
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 11:30 a.m. ET)
- Matt Brown vs. Court McGee
- Chase Sherman vs. Karl Williams
- Douglas Silva de Andrade vs. Cody Stamann
- Ihor Potieria vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Mandy Bohm vs. Ji Yeon Kim
- Bryan Battle vs. Gabe Green
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Tainara Lisboa
UFC on ABC 4 takes place Saturday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. The main card airs on ABC following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 4.
