Making weight might singlehandedly be one of the toughest and most slippery slopes in MMA. Unfortunately, not every fighter can win this battle. Making weight, or in simple terms, passing the final test before stepping into the Octagon, is a challenge that is almost as tough as the fight itself.

Not every UFC fighter has always passed this test successfully. Charles Oliveira's controversial weight miss at UFC 274 cost him the lightweight championship, while many fighters who missed weight have been fined. However, a few UFC fighters have always hit the weight limit for their division.

Conor McGregor

With a reputation for delivering on fight night, Conor McGregor has always been consistent on the scales. Throughout his successful UFC career, McGregor has always made weight for all his scheduled bouts.

McGregor made weight in 28 UFC bouts over 12 years. The most astonishing part about this is that he played his trade across three different weight classes, competing at featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.

McGregor’s highly disciplined approach to training and weight cutting ensured that he never once faced a fine or controversy in his career for missing weight.

Sean O’Malley

Sean O’Malley is known for a lot of things- his highly entertaining persona, thrilling performances, and his out-of-the-box hairstyle choices. However, the former bantamweight champion, known for his viral knockouts, has never missed weight.

In his 16 official UFC fights, O’Malley has maintained a perfect record when making weight in the UFC. The former bantamweight champion has consistently hit the 135-pound limit, even admitting it wasn’t difficult for him to do so.

Colby Covington

Another UFC fighter, Colby Covington, is known for never missing weight throughout his career. It is a testament to the extremely disciplined approach that he follows outside the Octagon.

The former interim welterweight champion is well known for his relentless pace, never slowing down during fights. In his 17-fight UFC career, he mastered the art of shedding excess water weight while maintaining his shape and weight, never falling far off the 170 lb mark.

Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman has never missed the welterweight limit in his 26 scheduled UFC bouts. The former UFC welterweight champ is known for his immense professionalism, always arriving prepared in the Octagon and on the scales.

His discipline and relentless training have helped him stay focused on the competition rather than get distracted by weight-cut drama.

Israel Adesanya

The former two-time UFC middleweight champion has a record of 13 wins and 5 losses in the UFC. At 6 feet 4 inches, Israel Adesanya possesses an impressive 80-inch reach and is currently one of the biggest middleweights in the world. Despite his massive size, he has never struggled to make weight for the 185 lb division.

Given that missed weight can result in fines, title-fight cancellations, or competitive disadvantage, making weight is a victory in itself for UFC fighters. These five fighters proved that consistency and discipline begin long before entering the cage.

Which fighter’s discipline were you most impressed by?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil