UFC 319 suffers another hit as Bryan Battle’s bout was scrapped hours before the event. The build-up to UFC 319 has been a rollercoaster, and on weigh-in day, one of the final blows came from within. In a disappointing turn of events, Bryan Battle had his bout against Nursulton Ruziboev canceled just hours before the fight after missing weight for the second consecutive time.
Battle tipped the scales at 190 pounds, a full 4 pounds over the middleweight non-title limit including the one-pound allowance. Although there was initial buzz that the fight might go ahead at catchweight, with Battle fined 30 percent of his purse, the UFC ultimately pulled the plug.
Ruziboev, who made the weight cleanly, vented his frustration on social media, “Instead of talking too much, you need to make the weight first. This is a professional sport, blondie.”
This marks the second straight fight week that Battle has bungled his weight. In December, he weighed in at 175 pounds for a welterweight fight against Randy Brown, once again missing the mark. Despite both setbacks, Battle secured victories though his credibility appears to be under threat now.
As a result, UFC 319’s preliminary card shrank further. Earlier, the lightweight bout between King Green vs. Diego Ferreira and the TUF 33 welterweight final, Daniil Donchenko vs. Rodrigo Sezinando were already pulled due to injuries. These cancellations leave the card thinner but make the remaining fights, especially the championship clash between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev even more vital.
For Bryan Battle, the setback is a bitter pill, one that not only costs him a fight but also raises questions about his future discipline in making weight. For Nursulton Ruziboev, the frustration is real, he did his part, stepped on the scale without issue, and now walks away without the chance to compete.
UFC 319 will move forward, but this late cancellation is yet another reminder that in mixed martial arts, the fight often starts long before the walk to the Octagon and sometimes, it ends on the scale.
