Khabib Nurmagomedov looked relieved to make weight ahead of his UFC lightweight title fight Saturday
- Khabib Nurmagomedov made weight on Friday ahead of his UFC lightweight championship defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on Saturday.
- But the way in which Nurmagomedov stepped to the scales has created headlines.
- Nurmagomedov was the first athlete to weigh-in but requested the towel so he could do so naked, needed the support of men either side of him to step on the scales, and then looked relieved when he was told he had done it.
- His opponent Gaethje also weighed 155-pounds later at the event in Abu Dhabi, but did so in an apparently more comfortable manner than the champion.
FIGHT ISLAND — Khabib Nurmagomedov looked relieved to have made weight ahead of his UFC lightweight title fight against Justin Gaethje on Saturday.
Nurmagomedov was the first UFC 254 athlete to head to the scales on Friday morning at 9.00 a.m. local time.
Inside the media tent by the side of the Flash Forum, a purpose-built venue within a quarantined bubble on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov looked concerned before he even requested a UFC-branded towel.
The use of a towel was so he could strip naked, shedding himself of boxer shorts which could potentially weigh vital ounces and tip him over the mandated weight of 155-pounds.
As he was stepping onto the scales, he held onto men on either side of him for support.
He then lifted his arms to the sky as he waited for the official announcement.
Then, when he found out he weighed 155-pounds, he threw his head back, closed his eyes, and buried his face into his hands.
Watch Nurmagomedov weigh-in here:
Gaethje comfortably weighed-in at 155-pounds after Nurmagomedov, as did Michael Chandler who is the standby fighter should anything happen to either main event athlete — like testing positive for COVID-19.
As things stand, Chandler will not be required as the main event is set.
The Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje match for the UFC lightweight championship is on.
Watch them face-off for the final time before Saturday's big fight here:
Here are other selected weights from the 12-bout UFC 254 card:
- Robert Whittaker (186-pounds) vs. Jared Cannonier (185-pounds) — Middleweight
- Alexander Volkov (265-pounds) vs. Walt Harris (254-pounds) — Heavyweight
- Lauren Murphy (126-pounds) vs. Liliya Shakirova (126-pounds) — Women's Flyweight
- Magomed Ankalaev (205.5-pounds) vs. Ion Cutelaba (205.5-pounds) — Light Heavyweight
- Nathaniel Wood (140-pounds) vs. Casey Kenney (140-pounds) — Catchweight
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