PERTH, Australia – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC 284 fighter weigh-ins, where both title fights atop the card became set on the scale, but there were issues elsewhere.
The early weigh-ins took place at the UFC host hotel in Perth, Australia, and preceded the ceremonial weigh-ins for the fans at RAC Arena in Perth. The same venue hosts Saturday’s event, which has a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) and featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) both hit the mark for their champ vs. champ bout. Makhachev will put his title on the line for the first time against Volkanovski, who will go after a second concurrent title.
🏆 CHAMPION-VS-CHAMPION 🏆
Makhachev and Volkanovski have done their jobs on the scale in making weight for Saturday's #UFC284 superfight in Perth. Let's go!
Full story: https://t.co/bnyRKyj3at pic.twitter.com/VhTgudrRcH
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 10, 2023
In the co-feature, Yair Rodriguez (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Josh Emmett (18-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) fight for an interim featherweight belt just ahead of champ Volkanovski’s quest for a second strap at lightweight.
An interim champion will be crowned! Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett have made weight for the #UFC284 co-main event.
Full story: https://t.co/6A4R8ExGNa pic.twitter.com/gx5K0e0nkh
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 10, 2023
Two of the 26 fighters came in heavy.
Kleydson Rodrigues weighed in a pound over the flyweight limit for his preliminary bout against the debuting Shannon Ross. Rodrigues has been fined 20 percent of his purse, but the bout will proceed as scheduled.
Zubaira Tukhugov weighed in a pound and a half over the lightweight limit for the first bout of the night against Elves Brenner.
The full UFC 284 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
- Champ Islam Makhachev (155) vs. Alexander Volkanovski (154.5) – for lightweight title
- Yair Rodriguez (145) vs. Josh Emmett (145) – for interim featherweight title
- Randy Brown (171) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (171)
- Parker Porter (264) vs. Justin Tafa (266)
- Jimmy Crute (204.5) vs. Alonzo Menifield (206)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN/ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)
- Modestas Bukauskas (206) vs. Tyson Pedro (206)
- Melsik Baghdasaryan (146) vs. Josh Culibao (146)
- Kleydson Rodrigues (127)* vs. Shannon Ross (125.5)
- Jamie Mullarkey (155) vs. Francisco Prado (154.5)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
- Jack Jenkins (145.5) vs. Don Shainis (146)
- Loma Lookboonmee (115.5) vs. Elise Reed (115.5)
- Blake Bilder (146) vs. Shane Young (145.5)
- Elves Brenner (155.5) vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (157.5)*
*Missed weight; Rodrigues fined 20 percent of his purse, bout will proceed. Tukhugov details to come.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
