Ultimate Fighting Championship made their way into Buffalo, New York for “UFC 210” and while most of the controversy surrounds the pay-per-view’s co-main event, all the drama kicked off on the eve of fight night at the early weigh-ins in New York.
Both Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Daniel Cormier showed up to the venue where they were holding the early weigh-ins at the last minute, and the champion weighed in first. Cormier weighed in at 206.2 pounds, which is 1.2 pounds over the permitted limit for light heavyweight championship contests.
Cormier left the scales and came back no more than two minutes later, weighing in at 205 pounds on the dot. The room erupted as Cormier and his team celebrated the fact, but controversy surrounds his second weigh-in as he grabbed the towel that was blocking his privates from the media, which can greatly impact how much he weighs. Shedding pounds of the scale becomes very easy once you grab the towel.
Johnson made the fight official when he weighed in 1.2 pounds under the permitted limit. The fight would end in the second round after Cormier submitted him with a rear-naked choke, but Johnson and his team have chosen to keep fighting this controversy:
Anthony Johnson has filed an appeal of UFC 210 weigh-ins to NYSAC, requested a hearing on the matter. NYSAC confirms letter was received.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 13, 2017
Here's an excerpt from Johnson's appeal. Wants DC to testify under oath about weigh-in, give up 20% of purse AND be stripped of title. pic.twitter.com/dpJO2w4z6e
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) April 13, 2017
Do you think this is acceptable? Should Cormier be stripped of the championship for allegedly grabbing the towel? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!