Weight Miss Drama: UFC Fight Night Shaken by Estevam and Gore Coming in Heavy at Official Weigh-ins

The UFC APEX is no stranger to drama, but Friday’s official weigh-ins added another chapter to the saga of fighters struggling with the scale. Brazilian flyweight Ketlen Estevam and light heavyweight Marcin Prachnio’s replacement opponent Zac Gore both missed their marks by considerable margins ahead of Saturday’s event.

Let me break down what happened at today’s weigh-ins and what it means for tomorrow’s fights.

Estevam and Gore: The Weight Miss Breakdown

When Ketlen Estevam stepped on the scale this morning, the digital display settled at 130 pounds—a full four pounds over the 126-pound flyweight limit. Meanwhile, late replacement Zac Gore, who stepped in to face Marcin Prachnio, tipped the scales at 189.5 pounds, exceeding the light heavyweight cutoff by 3.5 pounds.

I’ve seen weight misses before, but these aren’t small margins we’re talking about. Four pounds in the flyweight division is significant—that’s approximately 3.2% over the limit for Estevam.

What This Means for the Fights

Both bouts are expected to proceed as catchweight contests, but there are consequences. Typically, fighters who miss weight forfeit a percentage of their purse to their opponents—usually around 20-30% depending on the severity of the miss.

For Estevam, this weight miss could have significant career implications. Currently sitting outside the top 15 in the women’s flyweight division, she needed a clean performance to make her case for climbing the ranks. Starting with a weight miss doesn’t set the right tone.

Gore, being a late replacement, might receive slightly more leeway from fans and the UFC brass, but professional fighters are expected to make weight regardless of circumstances. Taking fights on short notice is commendable, but it doesn’t exempt you from the contractual obligations.

The Psychology of Weight Misses

I’ve talked with enough fighters over the years to know that missing weight can create a mental burden. Some fighters carry that guilt into the octagon and underperform, while others—freed from the depleting effects of an extreme cut—actually perform better.

Will Estevam and Gore fall into the first category or the second? That’s one of the fascinating subplots to watch for on Saturday night.

The Rest of the Card

While these weight misses have grabbed headlines, the rest of the card successfully made weight, including main eventers Edson Barboza (146 lbs) and Lerone Murphy (145.5 lbs), who are set for what promises to be an explosive featherweight showdown.

The co-main event featuring middleweights Joaquin Buckley and Nursulton Ruziboev also went off without a hitch, with both fighters hitting their marks at 186 pounds.

What’s Your Take?

Weight misses always spark debate in the MMA community. Should the UFC implement stricter penalties? Should they add more weight classes to reduce the severity of cuts? Or is this simply part of the sport—an additional challenge fighters must overcome?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the UFC should handle weight misses like we saw today. Drop a comment below or hit me up on social media with your take!

Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow for all the action from the UFC APEX. Even with the weight drama, these fights still promise to deliver the goods.

Source: UFC Official Weigh-in Results