5 UFC fighters who cut incredible amounts of weight

#2 TJ Dillashaw (UFC bantamweight)

One of the most horrific weight-cutting stories of recent times involves former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw. In January 2019, Dillashaw decided to move down to flyweight in a chance to attain champ-champ status.

The weight-cut, as expected, was terrible. The images ahead of his flyweight championship bout with Henry Cejudo were horrifying.

LOL and some of you were really coming at me when I said TJ would kill himself trying to make flyweight. This is hard to see honestly. pic.twitter.com/bg3zYkodnI

— Tony 🇮🇹 (@BigToneTrader) January 5, 2019

The 35-year-old cut 29 pounds for the fight, around 19.1 percent of his total body weight. Dillashaw said his body started to 'crash' a month and a half before his fight with 'The Messenger.'

"I pushed my body to the extreme. About six weeks out, my body started to crash, it started to get tired. I started feeling like I didn't want to get up for practice," TJ Dillashaw said.

Not only did the former 135-pound champion lose the fight to Cejudo, but he also tested positive for EPO. The drug-test violation earned him a two-year suspension. The Colorado native then stated that he only took EPO to make the flyweight weigh-in limit.

Dillashaw will make his return to the octagon on July 24 against Cory Sandhagen at UFC Vegas 32. The fight will take place at 135 pounds, which many will agree is the best option for the 35-year-old.

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#1. Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC flyweight)

Deiveson Figueiredo takes the top spot on this list because he missed weight in a championship fight.

In February 2020, 'Deus da Guerra' came in 2.5 pounds above the weight limit for his flyweight title bout against Joseph Benavidez. Before that, the Brazilian fighter cut 39 pounds in three months for his fight against Jussier Formiga.

To this day, Figueiredo faces issues with cutting weight as he looks depleted during weigh-ins.

Many have attributed Figueiredo's recent loss to Brandon Moreno at UFC 263 to a bad weight cut as well.

Deiveson Figueiredo doesn’t rule out move to bantamweight after rough weight cut for UFC 263 https://t.co/9XiRMbN0UW pic.twitter.com/Z7VIXps2RO

— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) June 15, 2021

The former 125-pound king is contemplating a switch to bantamweight, where he can perform to his full potential without stressing over cutting weight.