Anderson Silva’s former coach and the current trainer for Patricio Pitbull wants to see the UFC adopt a stricter policy for dealing with indiscretions on the scale.
The topic of weigh-ins has risen firmly to the surface in recent times thanks to a couple of high-profile moments in September.
A week before Kelvin Gastelum missed weight for Noche UFC and went on to defeat Dustin Stoltzfus, the promotion’s trip to Paris lost one of the card’s most intriguing fights owing to a failure on the scale.
Losene Keita signed with the UFC as one of the most highly touted names from the European MMA scene, and fans were even more excited for his debut when it was confirmed to come against a legend of the sport in Pitbull.
But after ‘Black Panther’ missed weight by three pounds, the Brazilian exercised his right to call the fight off rather than competing at a disadvantage against an opponent whom he did not believe did everything possible to shed the pounds.
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Coach Eric Albarracin wants UFC to take more action after his fighter’s opponent missed weight
Close by for the recent controversy in the French capital was Pitbull’s trainer, Eric Albarracin. The American, who is credited with coaching fighters to at least 17 titles in the UFC and Bellator, has worked with the likes of Anderson Silva, Junior Dos Santos, and the Nogueira brothers during his career.
Albarracin fully supported Pitbull’s decision not to accept Keita’s offer to sacrifice his full purse to save their UFC Paris fight, and he’s even called on the promotion to cut fighters who can’t hit their divisional limits.
“In the Olympics, you’re 0.1 over, it’s over…there’s no catchweights, there’s no paying 20 percent,” Albarracin said during an interview with ShowCageLive. “That’s the sport we come from.
“We were telling him he better make weight or we’re not taking the fight. … What excuse can you give?
“The UFC needs to change the culture,” Albarracin continued. “You don’t make weight, you get cut. You do that a couple of times…couple of people get cut one right after another, everybody starts making weight.
“The whole culture will change in the UFC if they make those cuts.”
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Losene Keita still has a UFC future after failed Patricio Pitbull fight
While rumors initially suggested Albarracin would get that wish granted when it comes to Keita, there’s been no such confirmation of his quick release.
In addition, UFC executive Dave Shaw indicated that he expects the newcomer to get a second chance at making his Octagon debut down the line.
“I believe so,” Shaw said at the UFC Paris post-fight press conference when asked if Keita still has a future in the promotion.
“Honestly, I don’t know the specifics. I think a few of us were surprised the fight didn’t happen, but in any case, it’s going to be good to have him on the roster.”