UFC 333 Fight Proceeds Despite 4.5-Pound Miss

Nicolle Caliari will fight Iasmin Lucindo at UFC 333 on Saturday despite coming in 4.5 pounds over the strawweight limit at Friday's weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi.

Caliari stepped on the scale at 120.5 pounds, missing the 116-pound championship limit by a significant margin, MMA Mania reports. Lucindo made weight without issue, as did the other 17 fighters on the card. The bout will proceed as a catchweight contest, with Caliari forfeiting 30 percent of her purse.

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Lucindo Accepts Catchweight After Suspension

Lucindo's willingness to take the fight makes sense given her recent layoff. She served a nine-month suspension after testing positive for mesterolone, though Combat Sports Anti-Doping ruled the violation consistent with unintentional supplement contamination. After that lengthy absence and the trip from Brazil to the Middle East, turning down the bout was never realistic.

Lucindo carries an 18-6 record into the contest and has gone 5-2 in the UFC, with her only loss in six appearances a decision to Amanda Lemos last year. Caliari, 9-4 overall and 1-2 in the promotion, has one UFC win — a submission of Shauna Bannon in May. This marks her first recorded weight miss.

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The strawweight matchup opens the UFC 333 card. Early prelims begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time on Saturday, October 23.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — UFC 333 fight will go ahead despite 4.5 pound weight miss