Aspen Ladd’s weight continues to be an unfortunate story the talented fighter simply cannot escape.
On Friday, Ladd (9-3) came in two pounds heavy for her bantamweight fight with former UFC women’s 135lb title challenger Sara McCann. The bout was subsequently scratched from the UFC Vegas 60 card.
“Due to Aspen Ladd weighing in over the bantamweight limit, the bout between Sara McMann has been canceled from the card,” promotion officials said in a brief statement issues Friday.
It’s not the first time that Ladd has missed weight for a fight resulting in its cancellation. In 2018, after having missed weight once on the regional circuit, Ladd came in 1.8lbs heavy for a fight with Leslie Smith at UFC Atlantic City. Smith would attempt to negotiate a catchweight and even worked to extend her contract with the UFC. The two parties could not reach a deal, however, and the UFC instead paid out the final fight on her contract, paving the way for Smith to join Bellator MMA.
Ladd, meanwhile, stuck with the bantamweight division, but in 2019 had her license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission after she gained back 18% of her body weight between weigh-ins and fight night for a bout with Germaine De Randamie.
Last October, Ladd was set to face Macy Chiasson, only to come in one pound over the limit. Despite being a small miss, health concerns surrounding Ladd’s cut resulted in the fight being cancelled.
Just a few weeks after the Chiasson date, Ladd took a featherweight fight against Norma Dumont, losing a decision. She then opted to head back to bantamweight, making weight for an April fight with Raquel Pennington at UFC 273. She would lose that fight via decision as well — and may want to consider another attempt at 145lbs moving forward.
