It won’t be a title fight, but the show must go on at UFC 225, and Robert Whittaker will indeed face Yoel Romero at the event.
Putting an end to hours of speculation, UFC President Dana White confirmed Friday that Robert Whittaker vs. Yoel Romero will remain on the UFC 225 card. And having said that, it obviously won’t be the title fight fans were hoping for. The news comes hours after Romero stepped on the scales not once but twice, coming in a full pound over middleweight championship weight at 186lbs Friday morning. Given an extra two hours to hit the mark by the Illinois Athletic Commission, Romero came up just short again, clocking in at 185.2lbs.
Still, the show must go on, and it appears as if it will.
WHITTAKER vs ROMERO!!! pic.twitter.com/sQC8g0HePM
— Dana White (@danawhite) June 8, 2018
The two squared off at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Chicago, ahead of their fight tomorrow night. Not confirmed is what percentage of his purse Romero will forfeit because of the miss.
Speaking to Joe Rogan on stage in front of the crowd in Chicago, Romero said the commission in Illinois shut down his weight cut. “I needed two hours,” he told Rogan. “I needed two hours, and the commission only gave me one.” Romero professed ignorance as to why his weight cut halted. “This is the commission’s decision,” he said.
UFC 225 takes place Saturday, June 9 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.
