5 UFC fighters who appeared to be out of shape at a weigh-in

#4. Frank Mir – UFC 61

Frank Mir ballooned out of shape for his fight with Dan Christison at UFC 61

Widely recognized as one of the best heavyweight fighters of his generation, Frank Mir captured both the UFC heavyweight title and the interim heavyweight title during his time with the promotion. He also defeated top stars like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Brock Lesnar and Mirko Cro Cop.

Mir was also renowned for regularly changing his physical shape. He trimmed down and looked shredded in 2009 order to increase his cardio. He then bulked up and added an insane amount of muscle to his frame just a year or so later.

However, in 2006, when he first returned from a severe leg injury sustained in a motorcycle accident, Mir was far from being in the best shape of his career. In fact, after suffering a TKO defeat to Marcio Cruz in his big return fight, he looked to be in downright awful physical shape for his fight with Dan Christison at UFC 61.

Mir emerged at the weigh-in sporting a visible gut. If this suggested he wasn’t in the best condition, those fears were confirmed in the fight. Despite picking up a win via decision, many fans felt the result should’ve gone the other way – and Mir clearly gassed out early in the bout.

After such a terrible showing, many UFC fans assumed Mir’s time at the top of the heavyweight division was done. This made his eventual resurgence a couple of years later both stunning and welcome.

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#3. Gian Villante – UFC Vegas 4

Gian Villante's move to heavyweight saw him end up in seemingly bad shape

Plenty of UFC fighters decide to move up in weight in order to look for more success. Many of them choose to do so in order to avoid energy-sapping weight cuts.

Most UFC fighters choosing this path simply continue to train as normal, but avoid their usual weight-cutting techniques. Fighters competing in the heavier weight classes often hit the weight room in order to gain muscle.

Alistair Overeem, for example, bulked up to monstrous proportions when he moved to heavyweight, while Brandon Vera did the same in the twilight of his UFC career.

Gian Villante, however, appeared to have gone down a different path for his move to the heavyweight division in 2020.

Once a ripped 205lber, the New Yorker moved to the heavyweight division to face Maurice Greene. When he emerged at the weigh-in, though, it became clear that rather than hit the weights, Villante had apparently been eating whatever he’d wanted.

He came into the fight weighing 255lbs – a full 50lbs heavier than his previous weight – and did not look to be in the best condition at all.

His subsequent loss to Greene therefore came as no surprise. While he trimmed down to 243lbs for his next bout, it’s fair to argue that he was probably better off at 205lbs.