UFC keeping early weigh-ins for TUF 27 & 226 PPV

It just may be that the constant stream of negative feedback surrounding the UFC’s decision to abandon their early weigh-ins experiment didn’t fall on deaf ears after all. ESPN reports that, at least for the immediate future, plans to go back to the classic late-afternoon weigh-in style of years past have been put on hold.

In a memo to athletes and their managers, UFC Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitzky, noted the backlash that the UFC’s planned policy change had sparked. He also made it clear that any future policy change would be announced internally well in advance of roll out.

“We appreciate the feedback we’ve received to date as we continue to work with athletic commissions and federations to actively analyze the issue and consider implementing new policies to further support safe weight management practices,” Novitzky wrote in a memo sent to fighters and managers, which was obtained by ESPN. “Going forward, UFC athletes and support will be notified well in advance of any policy changes surrounding weigh-in times and weight management policy.”

That doesn’t mean that the promotion won’t still shift things back to the way they were, but it maybe on a slower time frame than initially hoped. And it could be that, next time around, they’ll make sure that fighters know how drastically their job is going to change, before Dana White announces it to the public in an interview.

For the moment, however, it does mean that next week’s Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale and UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier fight cards will have their weigh-ins in the AM. And for that, fighters worried about re-planning their weight cut schedule can breathe a sigh of relief.