In California, fighters have their weights checked on the day of their fights – not just when they have to hit their marks on the scale.
In 2017, the California State Athletic Commission put a plan in place to try to cut back on excessive weight cutting. Within those rules was a cap on how much a fighter could gain from the official weigh-ins to the fight.
If a fighter gained more than 10 percent back before the bout, the commission then could make a recommendation that he or she move to a higher weight class. If a fighter gained more than 15 percent, the commission had plans in place to potentially cancel fights.
At UFC 298, which took place Feb. 17 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., 11 of the 24 fighters on the card gained more than 10 percent of their weight back. Six of 11 exceeded the 15 percent threshold. MMA Junkie on Tuesday obtained a list of fight-night weights from the CSAC.
Check out the weight gains and percentages for all 24 fighters on the card.
Andrea Lee
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Andrea Lee defends against Miranda Maverick during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 125.5
Fight night: 136.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Miranda Maverick
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Miranda Maverick defends against Andrea Lee during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 126
Fight night: 135.8
Gain: 8 percent
Result: Miranda Maverick def. Andrea Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Valentine Woodburn
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Val Woodburn defends against Oban Elliott during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 169.5
Fight night: 184
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Oban Elliott
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Oban Elliott moves in with a hit against Val Woodburn during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 185.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Oban Elliott def. Val Woodburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Josh Quinlan
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Danny Barlow moves in with a hit against Josh Quinlan during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 169
Fight night: 187.8
Gain: 11 percent
Result: Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:18
Danny Barlow
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Danny Barlow celebrates his TKO victory against Josh Quinlan during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 171
Fight night: 197.8
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Danny Barlow def. Josh Quinlan via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:18
Brendson Ribeiro
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Brendson Ribeiro moves in with a hit against Zhang Mingyang during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 205.6
Fight night: 219.6
Gain: 7 percent
Result: Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:41
Zhang Mingyang
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Zhang Mingyang celebrates his KO victory against Brendson Ribeiro during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 204.5
Fight night: 230.2
Gain: 13 percent
Result: Zhang Mingyang def. Brendson Ribeiro via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:41
Carlos Vera
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Carlos Vera moves in with a kick against Rinya Nakamura during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 135.5
Fight night: 158.6
Gain: 17 percent
Result: Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rinya Nakamura
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Rinya Nakamura fights Carlos Vera during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 135.5
Fight night: 147.2
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Rinya Nakamura def. Carlos Vera via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Junior Tafa
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Junior Tafa lands a hit against Marcos Rogerio de Lima during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 249
Fight night: 247
Gain: -1 percent
Result: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via TKO (leg kicks, punches) – Round 2, 1:14
Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Marcos Rogerio de Lima reacts following his TKO victory against Junior Tafa during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 261.5
Fight night: 273.4
Gain: 5 percent
Result: Marcos Rogerio de Lima def. Junior Tafa via TKO (leg kicks, punches) – Round 2, 1:14
Mackenzie Dern
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Mackenzie Dern prepares to face Amanda Lemos of Brazil in their women’s strawweight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Weigh-in day: 116
Fight night: 127
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amanda Lemos
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Amanda Lemos lands a hit against Mackenzie Dern during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 115.5
Fight night: 123.8
Gain: 7 percent
Result: Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Roman Kopylov
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Roman Kopylov moves in with a kick against Anthony Hernandez during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 185
Fight night: 194
Gain: 9 percent
Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:23
Anthony Hernandez
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Anthony Hernandez reacts following his victory against Roman Kopylov during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 203.6
Gain: 10 percent
Result: Anthony Hernandez def. Roman Kopylov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:23
Henry Cejudo
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Henry Cejudo moves in against Merab Dvalishvili during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 135
Fight night: 150.6
Gain: 12 percent
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Merab Dvalishvili
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Merab Dvalishvili celebrates defeating Henry Cejudo in their bantamweight weight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Weigh-in day: 135
Fight night: 156.8
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Henry Cejudo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Geoff Neal
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Geoff Neal fights against Ian Machado Garry during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 200.8
Gain: 18 percent
Result: Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Ian Machado Garry
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ian Machado Garry moves in for a hit against Geoff Neal during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 170.5
Fight night: 180.6
Gain: 6 percent
Result: Ian Machado Garry def. Geoff Neal via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
Paulo Costa
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Paulo Costa reacts following the match against Robert Whittaker during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 215.2
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Robert Whittaker
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Robert Whittaker reacts following the match against Paulo Costa during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 185.5
Fight night: 207.6
Gain: 12 percent
Result: Robert Whittaker def. Paulo Costa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Alexander Volkanovski
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Alexander Volkanovski fights against Ilia Topuria during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 144.5
Fight night: 166.2
Gain: 15 percent
Result: Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
Ilia Topuria
Feb 17, 2024; Anaheim, California, USA; Ilia Topuria celebrates his championship victory against Alexander Volkanovski during UFC 298 at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Weigh-in day: 144.5
Fight night: 167.2
Gain: 16 percent
Result: Ilia Topuria def. Alexander Volkanovski via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 3:32
