Dana White called the weight fiasco involving Charles Oliveira’s belt loss “A Nightmare.” when speaking to the press after UFC 274.
Much of the buildup to UFC 274 took a drastic turn when Lightweight Champion Charles Oliveria was stripped of his title after failing to make weight. Oliveira came in half a pound heavier than the limit of 155 lbs. As per UFC rules, Oliveira was stripped of the title and was ineligible to win it back even if he beat his opponent. Justin Gaethje, his opponent, was eligible to win the vacant belt if he had beaten Oliveira.
But things did not go to plan for Gaethje. After an explosive start to the first round, Oliveira made Gaethje submit with a rear-necked choke. This was another addition to Oliveira’s long list of submission victories. Even though he won, Oliveira still did not get the belt that he was stripped of. Instead, he was made the number one contender and has to win his next bout to regain his title.
This has been a talking point for MMA fans and media worldwide. Oliveira’s victory felt bittersweet to his fans as he did not regain the title even after such a spectacular performance. When asked about the recent controversies involving the event, Dana White said that the whole fiasco was “A Nightmare”. Even though he lauded Oliveira for his performance, he also said that there are rules and fighters have to respect the rules.
He also ensured that Oliveira would get the pay-per-view cut as the champion. This was something that most people thought he would not get because of the weight loss fiasco.
Belt or no belt, today’s victory cements Oliveira’s status as the best lightweight in the world. All the doubts have been squashed in an emphatic fashion.
