CFFC 135 weigh-in results: Khusein Shaikhaev heavy, leaving only Joey Ruquet eligible for title in headliner
Undefeated newcomer weighed 138 pounds, but main event cleared for Saturday's card on UFC FIGHT PASS.
TAMPA, Florida – Saturday's CFFC 135 headliner will go on as planned, but only one of the night's two participants is eligible to walk away with the vacant bantamweight title.
Undefeated Chechen contender Khusein Shaikhaev (12-0) registered 138 pounds for the contest, and while CFFC regulations allow for a one-pound allowance in championship fights, "Shy" was still a full two pounds over that limit. Meanwhile fellow promotional newcomer Joey Ruquet (9-4) weighed in comfortably under the limit at 134.8 pounds.
Shaikhaev was given an additional hour to make weight but declined a second trip to the scale and was fined 20 percent of his purse. The bout now goes on as scheduled, but only Ruquet has the opportunity to walk away with the title.
Additionally, a planned heavyweight clash between Cameron Kinzig (4-0) and Vitor Resende (4-1) was scrapped prior to the official weigh-ins, with illness forcing "Vitao" to withdraw from the contest. With the change, a lightweight matchup between Brandon Gaitor (5-5) and Daniel Matos (5-4) will now open the night's main card on UFC FIGHT PASS.
The CFFC 135 official weigh-ins took place at the athlete hotel, with the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds playing host to the action on Saturday night.
The complete CFFC 135 weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS, 8 p.m. ET)
Joey Ruquet (134.8) vs. Khusein Shaikhaev (138)# – for vacant bantamweight title
Hugh Pulley (169.8) vs. Perry Stargel (169.6)
Donald Bush (154.8) vs. Blake Smith (155.6)
Collin Lubberts (170.4) vs. Kendly St. Louis (169.4)
C.J. Brant (155.4) vs. Mihai Culai (154.8)
Brandon Gaitor (155.6) vs. Daniel Matos (153.6)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ONLYFANS, 6 p.m. ET)
• Rueben Beard (135) vs. Matt Hammerstone (135.6)
NextGen: Phoenix Ibe (146.4) vs. Blake Torchon (146.4) – for vacant featherweight title
NextGen: James Gavra (155.6) vs. Drew Onega (154.4)
NextGen: JoJo Alford (156) vs. Aldo Dominguez (154.6)
# Shaikhaev missed weight by two pounds, was fined 20 percent of his purse, and is ineligible to win title
