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The fight night weights for UFC 298 have been revealed by the California State Athletic Commission with welterweight competitor Geoff Neal making the biggest jump between stepping on the scale on Friday and then facing Ian Machado Garry on Saturday.

The report provided by the commission to MMA Fighting shows the percentage of weight gained by every fighter on the card. Over the past few years, the California commission has attempted to curb extreme weight cutting using tools like this and making suggestions to some athletes that a change in weight class could be necessary in the future.

The biggest percentage gain on the entire card came from Neal, who hit the scale at 170.5 pounds and then gained a whopping 30.3 pounds — 18 percent of his body weight — before facing Garry the next night at UFC 298. For his part, Garry weighed the same on Friday at 170.5 pounds but only gained an additional 10.1 pounds — six percent of his body weight — and ultimately earned a unanimous decision victory in the fight.

In the UFC 298 main event, both Ilia Topuria and Alexander Volkanovski gained almost an identical amount of weight before facing off in Anaheim. Topuria hit the scale at 144.5 pounds and then gained 22.7 pounds to weigh 167.2 pounds on fight night.

Meanwhile, Volkanovski weighed 144.5 pounds and gained 21.7 pounds to ultimately weigh 166.2 pounds on fight night.

Paulo Costa also saw one of the biggest jumps in weight on the card after he hit the scale at 185.5 pounds and then gained 29.7 pounds to weigh 215.2 pounds on fight night.

Bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili also saw one of the biggest weight gains before he set foot in the octagon to do battle with Henry Cejudo at UFC 298. The Georgian fighter weighed 135 pounds on the scale and then gained 21.8 pounds — 16 percent of his body weight — to hit 156.8 pounds on Saturday before the fight. Cejudo weighed 150.6 pounds on fight night after he also hit 135 pounds on weigh-in day.

Here are the full fight night weights for UFC 298 along with the percentage of weight gained for each fighter:

Alexander Volkanovski: (145 to 166.2 pounds = 15 percent) vs. Ilia Topuria (144.5 to 167.2 pounds = 16 percent)

Paulo Costa (185.5 to 215.2 pounds = 16 percent) vs. Robert Whittaker (185.5 to 207.6 pounds = 12 percent)

Ian Machado Garry (170.5 to 180.6 pounds = 6 percent) vs. Geoff Neal (170.5 to 200.8 pounds = 18 percent)

Henry Cejudo (135 to 150.6 pounds = 12 percent) vs. Merab Dvalishvili (135 to 156.8 pounds = 16 percent)

Roman Kopylov (185 to 194 pounds = 5 percent) vs. Anthony Hernandez (185.5 to 203.6 pounds = 10 percent)

Mackenzie Dern (116 to 127 pounds = 9 percent) vs. Amanda Lemos (115.5 to 123.8 pounds = 7 percent)

Junior Tafa (249 to 247 pounds = -1 percent) vs. Marcos Rogerio de Lima (261.5 to 273.4 pounds = 5 percent)

Carlos Vera (135.5 to 158.6 pounds = 17 percent) vs. Rinya Nakamura (135.5 to 147.2 = 9 percent)

Brendson Ribeiro (205.5 to 219.6 pounds = 7 percent) vs. Zhang Minyang (204.5 to 230.2 pounds = 13 percent)

Danny Barlow (171 to 197.8 pounds = 16 percent) vs. Josh Quinland (169 to 187.8 pounds = 11 percent)

Val Woodburn (169.5 to 184 pounds = 9 percent) vs. Oban Elliott (170.5 to 185.2 pounds = 9 percent)

Miranda Maverick (126 to 135.8 pounds = 8 percent) vs. Andrea Lee (125.5 to 136.2 pounds = 9 percent)

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Full Card Revealed
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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Is it time for a new UFC weight class?

For several years now, fighters have pushed for the inclusion of a 165-pound class. The idea is relatively simple: Lightweight and Welterweight are regarded as two of the more talent-rich divisions in the sport. If the options available were 155-, 165-, and 175-pounds rather than the current 155- and 170-pounds, that same roster of athletes (plus a few smaller Middleweights) would occupy three divisions rather than two. Leon Edwards would have to choose whether his belt carried over to 165- or 175-pounds, but otherwise, not a ton of change would be required.

In addition to giving athletes more options, it would benefit the UFC as well. After all, male champions defending their titles are the most common source of pay-per-view (PPV) main events, and this adds another belt to the mix. Hell, it’s even another belt that Conor McGregor could try to fight for! Maybe Khamzat Chimaev could make 175 pounds too, seeing as he’s somewhat stranded between Welterweight and Middleweight.

According to UFC Lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev, there’s more to the idea than mere rumor. In fact, Fiziev claims that the promotion is actively working towards adding the 165-pound class.

“This is not a rumor,” Fiziev told Russian outlet Ushatayka (via SportsKeeda). “This is already for sure as far as I know. I heard that this is already true and even they have already fought, they even identified something there, I heard. Yes.”

Fiziev most recently appeared opposite Mateusz Gamrot back in September 2023. The 30-year-old Muay Thai fighter was holding his own against the wrestler when he suddenly suffered a torn ACL in the second round, ending the contest and forcing him to the sidelines. Fiziev should be back sometime this year, but regardless of any new weight class, he intends to return at Lightweight.

“I feel good at [155]. I ate pasta during the week of the fight. I ate in Fight Week, even before the weigh-in. I’ve never had any issue with this. I just, out of discipline, sat down well before as I got a hold of it after the fight. Now, the experience has already come where you can restrain yourself where you need to not get ahold of something for the night. You don’t have to eat 10 snickers. That’s why it’s become much easier to lose weight in my last four fights. I generally lose weight like this, that’s why [165], no.”

Maybe someone convinced Dana White to change his mind? It’s happened before.

Insomnia

Francis Ngannou shook the room with a punch he didn’t even load up on. Unreal power!

Brian Ortega is held together by tape and prayer.

If this site becomes PowerSlapMania … I’ll probably just pout and be sad.

I don’t have a problem with Jairzinho Rozenstruik, but this is too many “Bigi Boy” main events.

Demetrious Johnson with some excellent impressions!

Jorge Masvidal is hanging out in Stockton. Does he get slapped?!?

Mike Perry is the voice of a generation.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

A failed takedown turned into an unconscious athlete very quickly here.

I’ve now seen two Artem Vakhitov MMA fights, and both saw him destroy outmatched and tiny opponents in seconds —the Giga Chikadze method to joining the UFC!

The ACA roster has so much talent.

Random Land

I would like to meet a snow monkey.

Midnight Music: Alt. Rock, 1999

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

The UFC produced record revenues in 2023 as the full-year financial report from the company showed huge growth in live events and sponsorship for the year.

As part of a year-end financial disclosure along with results from the fourth quarter of 2023, TKO Group Holdings — the parent company to UFC and WWE — reported huge gains for the MMA promotion for the entire year.

Overall, the UFC produced $ 1.3 billion revenue — a 13-percent increase from 2022. The UFC earned $ 282.8 million in revenue for the fourth quarter, which is up from $ 271.7 million during the same time in 2022. The jump in revenue was thanks to a $ 76.2 million increase in media rights and content fees, a $ 42.6 million increase in live events revenue and a $ 29.5 million increase in sponsorship revenue.

One of the biggest increases for the UFC came from live event revenue, which skyrocketed up 34 percent to a record $ 168 million in 2023 over 43 events in the year. The increases were driven by ticket revenues and site fees.

The UFC also saw another record year in sponsorships with revenue increasing by 18 percent to $ 196 million. Sponsorships will likely see another jump in 2024 after the UFC inked a lucrative multi-year deal with Bud Light to become the official beer of the promotion.

Of course media rights and content still drive the biggest revenue with $ 870.6 million for the year based on broadcast deals such as the UFC’s partnership with ESPN. That’s up from $ 794.4 million in 2022.

“TKO is off to a strong start following record financial performance in 2023 at both UFC and WWE,” TKO CEO Ari Emanuel said in a statement. “We secured Anheuser-Busch as the official beer partner of UFC, delivered a transformative deal to bring WWE’s Raw to Netflix beginning in 2025, and expanded our international footprint in important growth markets.

“We have more conviction than ever in the combination of these businesses and TKO’s ability to drive topline growth and margin expansion, generate meaningful free cash flow, and deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”

Looking ahead for 2024, TKO is targeting revenue for the year at $ 2.575 and $ 2.65 billion for the combined companies at UFC and WWE.

As Emanuel mentioned in his remarks, WWE inked a massive 10-year, $ 5 billion deal to take WWE Raw to Netflix starting in 2025 after signing a separate broadcast deal to move Smackdown to the USA Network. Next up will be the UFC with negotiations starting on a new broadcast rights deal later this year with the current contract with ESPN coming to an end in 2025.

Many believe the UFC could be looking for a deal worth double the current contract with numbers hitting $ 3 billion or more over the life of the contract. Of course, the UFC also faces turmoil in 2024 with an April 15 start date for the class action antitrust lawsuit filed by several ex-fighters seeking damages between $ 894 million and $ 1.6 billion.

WWE also dealt with controversy at the end of 2023 after a lawsuit was filed against company founder Vince McMahon with disturbing allegations of sexual assault and abuse, which eventually led to him resigning from the company after previously serving as the executive chairman over TKO. McMahon still remains a sizable stockholder in TKO, although he sold off $ 700 million worth of his holdings in the company last year.

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Amid continued speculation in recent months regarding the potential implementation of a new super-lightweight division of sorts at 165lbs – lightweight striking ace, Rafael Fiziev claims he has it on good authority that the UFC are on the cusp of confirming the debut of the weight class.

Fiziev, the current number eight ranked lightweight contender – has been sidelined since he suffered his second consecutive loss in the form of a second round TKO defeat to fellow European star, Mateusz Gamrot, suffering a knee injury against the former two-weight KSW gold holder.

UFC tipped to introduce new 165lbs division imminently

And in his time away from the Octagon, Fiziev, who turned in a Fight of the Year contender en route to a majority decision loss to former interim champion and symbolic BMF titleholder, Justin Gaethje last annum, claimed the promotion have “indentified” a plan to introduce a new 165 pound weight class.

“It’s not a rumor, I’m hearing that its already for sure, as far as I know,” Rafael FIziev said of a potential 165 pound division during an interview with Ushatayka. “I’ve heard that they’ve [the UFC] already identified something there.” 

Claims of an imminent 165 pound weight class announcement from Fiziev come hot on the heels of speculation from former two-weight champion, Daniel Cormier, how if the UFC were to introduce a new division, former duel-weight titleholder, Conor McGregor should most definitely feature in an inaugural championship fight.

“If you do [a] 165 [pound division], it has to be Conor [McGregor],” Daniel Cormier told Ben Askren during an interview. “You’re introducing a new weight class – it has to mean something. You can’t have two normal fighters introducing the weight. Look, it didn’t work at 145 [pounds] when they (the UFC) did it for the women. It ended up being two people, but if you recall, Germaine de Randamie fought Holly Holm for that championship in Brooklyn.”

Who do you think should fight for an inaugural 165lbs division title?

LowKickMMA.com

You don’t see many boxers make the leap from the ring to the cage.  It’s been done, but not in a long time.  James Toney made the jump back in 2010 and was easily finished by Randy Couture.  But then again, there’s Holly Holm.

In recent years, the temptation of big paydays have lured mixed martial artists to the boxing ring, but it’s been a one-way street.  Jake Paul is training to make his Professional Fighters League debut and Ryan Garcia called out bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley for an MMA bout in the UFC.  

On his YouTube channel, O’Malley responded to Garcia saying, “I’d fight Sean O’Malley in the UFC that’s it.”

“Buddy, I said, brother, I’d kill you within minutes.  It’s not even, it’s just not even realistic,” O’Malley said.  “It’s crazy how stupid and delusional.  I wonder if people think that when I call out boxers, though.   Is it the same kind of thing?  It is a little bit crazy when I call out boxers.  A little bit.  Not a ton.  Not a 100-percent crazy.  A little bit, but when boxers say they want to fight MMA, 100-percent crazy.”  

When Toney fought Couture, Couture simply took him down and submitted him.  O’Malley doesn’t think he needs grappling to beat Garcia in an MMA fight.  

“I don’t need to f**king take him down.  I mean, I could take him down and choke him, but it’s like I would kick him in the f**king body.  I would kick his little sticks.  I would do whatever the f**k I wanted to him,” O’Malley said.  

“I could box him with MMA gloves.  It’s a different sport with just those little MMA gloves.  The distance is different,” O’Malley continued.  “I could beat him and Devin Haney in the same night, back-to-back in a fight.  Pure delusion.”  

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

If Ryan Garcia is actually serious about challenging Sean O’Malley to an MMA fight, Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya wouldn’t mind a piece of the action as well.

“I like [O’Malley]. He’s a good striker,” De La Hoya said Monday on The MMA Hour.

“It’ll be a hell of a promotion, right? … I would actually entertain that, because Ryan can fight the main event with this kid, and maybe I can do Dana [White] on the co-main.”

For De La Hoya, 51, and White, 54, this is not the first time. Far from it.

The two promoters have publicly feuded for years. Over that time, White has thrown a barrage of verbal grenades in De La Hoya’s direction, and the former champion boxer has repeatedly responded in kind by challenging White to a fight. De La Hoya appeared to finally bury the hatchet with White in 2022, however White said that while he felt De La Hoya’s apology was “sincere,” there was no way the UFC CEO and Golden Boy headman could ever be friends again because of the damage inflicted upon their relationship.

More than a year later, De La Hoya said he still isn’t quite sure where he and White stand, but that doesn’t change his offer to knuckle up for a cross-promotional showdown.

“I don’t know if we’re cool. I mean, I don’t even talk to the guy,” De La Hoya said.

“I’m good [with him]. I’m good, I’m good. But it doesn’t mean that we can’t go at it.”

Garcia, 25, is currently slated to face two-weight world champion Devin Haney on April 20 in Brooklyn, but has teased a fight with O’Malley since the UFC star first rose to prominence. Rather than forcing O’Malley to cross over to boxing, however, Garcia boldly declared his desire to face the UFC bantamweight champion in MMA. Garcia said Monday on The MMA Hour that he would “destroy” O’Malley in a UFC fight with “three or four months of just MMA training,” and called upon White to answer his texts and make the bout happen.

As Garcia’s promoter, De La Hoya is more than willing to make it work if Garcia is actually serious about facing O’Malley after his high-profile showdown with Haney.

“I would be open to it,” De La Hoya said. “Again, I’m doing what’s right for Ryan. I’m doing what’s right for his career. See, because if you if you asked me this five years ago, I would have said, ‘No, there’s no way in hell. I mean, come on, what is it going to do for his career?’ Fighting this kid [O’Malley] would obviously put money in his pocket, would elevate his status worldwide, globally — and that’s what a fighter wants, right? They want to make a lot of money, they want to become popular, they want to become the man.

“So yeah, I would be open to it.”

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