Bryan Battle Misses Weight Again—Fight vs. Ruziboev Cancelled

By Ali Hammad August 17, 2025 07:58

The UFC 319 fight card suffered a significant blow on the eve of the event when Bryan Battle missed weight by four pounds, forcing the cancellation of his middleweight bout against Nursulton Ruziboev. This incident marks the second consecutive time Battle has failed to make weight, raising concerns about his future in the promotion and the impact on his career trajectory.

Battle weighed in at 190 pounds for his scheduled fight on August 16, 2025, exceeding the 186-pound non-title middleweight limit by a considerable margin. Initially, there was hope the fight could still proceed with Battle accepting a 30 percent purse penalty. However, in a late development, UFC officials and both fighters agreed to cancel the match entirely to preserve fighter safety and event integrity.

This missed weight came despite Battle moving up from welterweight, the division he last missed weight in back in December during UFC 310, where he weighed four pounds over the limit against Randy Brown. While Battle won that fight by a narrow split decision, this pattern of weight issues has put his professional discipline under scrutiny.

Battle, who holds a professional MMA record of 12 wins and 2 losses, is noted for his aggressive striking and strong ground game. He had been seen as a rising contender at middleweight, with a seven-win streak in the UFC before his recent hiatus. Fans and analysts had high hopes that his physicality and fight IQ would bring him closer to title contention, but repeated weight misses jeopardize those ambitions.

Immediately following the weigh-ins, Battle approached Ruziboev to personally apologize for his failure to make weight, expressing genuine remorse in a widely shared video that highlighted the emotional toll the cancellation took on both fighters. Ruziboev, holding a 36-9-2 professional record, respected Battle’s apology, emphasizing professionalism and sportsmanship despite the disappointment.

The cancellation of the fight also rocked UFC 319, which had already lost two other bouts due to injury and illness within the week, thinning the card to 12 bouts from an original 15. However, the high-profile main event, the middleweight title fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev, remained intact, providing fans at least one marquee matchup to look forward to.

Bryan Battle’s weight struggles raise important questions about the challenges MMA athletes face in managing physically demanding weight cuts, especially when changing divisions. Critics point to potential long-term repercussions, including loss of credibility with promoters and fans, and in some cases, the UFC considering contract termination for repeated failures.

Looking ahead, Battle will need to recalibrate his approach to weight management if he hopes to continue competing at the highest level. Given his demonstrated skills, many argue that his talent warrants a second chance, but professionalism regarding weight control is non-negotiable in today’s industry.

In summary, Bryan Battle’s failure to make weight at UFC 319 and the consequent cancellation of his fight with Nursulton Ruziboev is a major setback for the middleweight contender. The episode underscores the thin line fighters tread between success and career-altering mistakes. While Battle’s apology was heartfelt, the incident serves as a cautionary tale about the discipline required to thrive in MMA’s elite tiers.