Dana White & Co. Strips 20% of UFC Fighter’s Payout as Fine Imposed on Jake Hadley for Missing Weight at UFC 304 Weigh-Ins

UFC 304: Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad official weigh-ins for all 28 fighters took place today without any major issues until the early morning, which caused problems for UFC CEO Dana White and prelims in Manchester. In a bantamweight matchup, Jake Hadley, stepping up in weight class on short notice, is set to face Caolan Loughran, who is riding high on a recent win. However, a setback occurred when Hadley weighed in one pound over the bantamweight limit.

While the fight is still expected to happen, sources indicate that Jake Hadley will have to forfeit a portion of his purse, likely 20%, as a fine for missing weight. Hadley’s bout with Caolan Loughran will now proceed as a catchweight and the fighter will be hoping to add another feather to his already exciting professional MMA record of 10-3-0.

UFC and other MMA organizations generally have strict weight limits for their fights. The bantamweight division, considered one of the most entertaining in the UFC, was introduced in 2011 with a weight limit of 135 lbs. However, at today’s weigh-in, Jake Hadley exceeded the limit by one pound weighing in at 137 lbs. As per the MMA rules, “If a fighter takes part in a non-title fight, they cannot weigh more than one pound over the limit for that weight class.”

Fighters on the prelims typically earn between $10,000 and $20,000, so a 20% fine would be a significant portion of their pay. Notably, it is a last-minute fight for Hadley, who will be moving up from the featherweight division. Caolan Loughran, who weighed 136 lbs, was set to face Ramon Taveras at UFC 304. However, a serious injury forced Taveras to pull out from the bout and thus Hadley was called in just a week before the fight to take on the former Cage Warriors Bantamweight champion.

The other fight card participants successfully met their respective weight classes. In the main card, current UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards weighed in at 170 Lbs, while his opponent, Belal Muhammad, weighed in at 169 lbs. In the heavyweight MMA clash, Tom Aspinall weighed 251 lbs, and his opponent, Curtis Blaydes, weighed 256 lbs.

These incidents aren’t new in the UFC. Fans recently witnessed similar situations at the historic UFC 300 where Arman Tsarukyan and newcomer featherweight contender Diego Lopez were heavily fined by the NSAC, adding another memorable aspect to the fight night.

Recent fines imposed on UFC fighters

Few can forget the iconic clash between Arman Tsaeukyan and Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. While the fight itself was memorable, the events surrounding it overshadowed the octagon action. As Tsarukyan made his walkout, a heated exchange with a fan in the audience escalated into a brawl, resulting in Tsarukyan punching the man, identified as Obed Ardon. The NSAC imposed a 20% fine on Tsarukyan’s total fight purse as a penalty.

On a different note, Diego Lopes broke a post-fight rule after securing a knockout victory over Dan Ige at UFC 300 by jumping out of the cage to address Dana White. While a $5000 fine was initially levied, White intervened, covering the cost and allowing the cage jump. Moreover, looking back at March 2024, at UFC Vegas, the prelims fight between Igor Severino and Andre Lima took a bizarre turn.

During the fight, Severino bit Lima’s biceps, prompting the UFC to immediately end the match and nullify his contract. The NSAC forfeited Severino’s entire fight purse and imposed a fine along with a six-month suspension.

What are your thoughts on the fine imposed on Jake Hadley? Is 20% too much for exceeding the weight limit by just one pound? Let us know in the comments below.