OFFICIAL: Khabib & Gaethje make championship
[ Oct 24 – Main Card at 2pmET: https://t.co/J0b14mXFgS ] pic.twitter.com/aIdwU1Z5H6
weight for
#UFC254— UFC (@ufc)
October 23, 2020
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream UFC 254 live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. One of the more highly anticipated championship affairs in
recent memory is now official for Saturday.
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship will end its second stint on
“Fight Island” with its biggest fight yet as lightweight champion
Khabib
Nurmagomedov will unify titles with interim titleholder
Justin
Gaethje at
UFC 254. The 12-fight card is now official after the weigh-ins
took place, but it was not without some drama. Both Alex
Oliveira and Joel
Alvarez missed weight for their respective bouts.
Nurmagomedov (28-0) has been open about wanting to retire once he
reaches an MMA record of 30-0, so it appears the Dagestani
fighter’s days inside the Octagon are numbered. It’s been a
historic run for “The Eagle,” who has blazed through competition
with ease for the most part. Nurmagomedov last fought last year,
when he submitted Dustin
Poirier in the third round. While the champion needed the towel
to make weight, he managed to hit 155 pounds on the dot.
Looking to dethrone Nurmagomedov and make history for himself is
Gaethje (22-2). The Arizona native had a disappointing start to his
UFC career, getting knocked out by both Poirier and Eddie
Alvarez after a successful debut. However, he’s been in top
form since then knocking out four foes in a row including former
top contender Tony
Ferguson, which netted “The Highlight” an interim belt. Gaethje
stepped on the scales and made 155 pounds without any issue.
UFC 254 has a much earlier start time than normal. To catch the
early prelims, fans will need to hop on ESPN+ or UFC Fight Pass at
11 a.m. ET/8 a.m. PT. Action then continues on ESPN+ and ESPN2 at
noon E.T/9 a.m. PT. and the main card will air on ESPN+
pay-per-view starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.
UFC 254 Weigh-in Results:
Khabib
Nurmagomedov (155) vs. Justin
Gaethje (155)
Jared
Cannonier (185) vs. Robert
Whittaker (186)
Walt
Harris (254) vs. Alexander
Volkov (265)
Phil
Hawes (186) vs. Jacob
Malkoun (186)
Lauren
Murphy (126) vs. Liliya
Shakirova (126)
Magomed
Ankalaev (205) vs. Ion
Cutelaba (205.5)
Stefan
Struve (265) vs. Tai Tuivasa
(265)
Casey
Kenney (140) vs. Nathaniel
Wood (140)
Alex
Oliveira (173)* vs. Shavkat
Rakhmonov (171)
Sam
Alvey (206) vs. Da Un Jung
(206) Liana Jojua
(126) vs. Miranda
Maverick (126)
Joel
Alvarez (159.5)** vs. Alexander
Yakovlev (155.5)
* Oliveira missed weight by 2 pounds and has been fined 20
percent of his purse.
** Alvarez missed weight by 3.5 pounds and has been fined 30
percent of his purse.
Three backup fighters also made weight: Michael
Chandler (155), Sergey
Morozov (139.5) and Isi
Fitikefu (203.5).
