All fighters but one made weight for the UFC Fight Night 117 event taking place in Saitama, Japan on Friday, September 22 (Saturday in Japan).
UFC featherweight Mizuto Hirota was the last fighter to step on the scale during the official weigh-ins. According to MMA Junkie, every fighter on the card weighed in within the first 40 minutes of the official two-hour window except for Hirota, who weighed in during the final minutes.
Hirota walked slowly to scale and wiped his face as he made his way to the scale and looking like he was struggling to do so. He slipped off his footwear and slowly stepped on the scale with a hand on his hip. Looking down likely at his weight, Hirota didn’t have any reaction when his official weight of 150-pounds was announced, which is 4 pounds over the non-title featherweight limit. Hirota stood on the scale for a moment before making his way off the scale where it appeared as if the fighter nearly passed out, seeming to lose his balance as UFC officials helped to make sure he didn’t fall. Hirota blinks his eyes as it appears the fighter is struggling to keep things together and then makes his way out of the weigh-in area.
Mizuto Hirota holds an 18-8 professional MMA record and is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Alexander Volkanovski, which took place at UFC Fight Night 110 in June. Since making his second run in the UFC, “Pugnus” has gone 1-1-1 with a draw against Teruto Ishihara, a win over Cole Miller, and the loss to Volkanovski.
According to MMA Junkie, Hirota’s fight against Charles Rosa is still scheduled to take place but Hirota has been fined 30 percent of his purse. Hirota’s fine will go towards Rosa’s fight purse.
UFC Fight Night 117 will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/21/2017.