“Energy levels up and down but it’s all part of the process.” That’s how Brok Weaver described his weight cut Thursday, ahead of UFC Vegas.
On Friday, he missed weight for his fight with Roosevelt Roberts. Weaver came in at 1.5lbs over the non-title lightweight limit of 156lbs. He halted his weight cut, and accepted a 20% fine.
Ouch. It’s been a rough start to Weaver’s UFC career. After winning his way into the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series, Weaver was paired up with Thomas Gifford in October. Only to be forced to withdraw from the fight. He eventually made his debut at UFC Rio Rancho against Rodrigo Vargas, and had his hand raised in the end.
Only, the win came the worst way possible. Weaver (15-4) was hit with an illegal knee, while he was clearly a downed opponent. He couldn’t continue, and the result was a disqualification for Vargas. A win for Brok Weaver, but not how anyone sees their UFC debut going.
Asked about a rematch with Vargas at the UFC Vegas media day, Weaver threw out his stipulation. “I’ll fight Rodrigo Vargas if they give us Pride rules.”
Pride, the famed Japanese MMA promotion eventually scooped up by UFC parent company Zuffa, was famed for its more liberal approach to attacks on downed fighters. But Pride rules simply don’t exist in North America.
Weaver explained that he felt great going into that first UFC fight. But then, a couple things went wrong. Not the least of which was that knee. “I know the rules, so I don’t protect my face [getting up]. It’s not Pride rules,” he said. “If it was Pride rules, I would be getting up protecting my face, knowing that you can knee me in the face. But it happened and if I get took down this fight, I’m gonna get up the same way. If [Roosevelt Roberts] wants to knee me in the face and give me that win bonus and make me 2-0 in the UFC, I’ll take that win too. I’ll just have to suffer through the headache.”
This bout, however, is one he sees as his redemption fight. And his real UFC debut.
“I didn’t get to show much [last time],” Weaver said. “So this fight, I’m coming with a little anger. I’ve got to bring that dog out this fight, I’ve got to show the world what I’m made of.”
UFC on ESPN 9 goes down this Saturday, May 30 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. The event airs live on ESPN (TSN in Canada).
