Weigh-ins are complete for Bellator 254, and while the main event – women’s flyweight champion Ilima-Lei Macfarlane’s defense vs. Juliana Velasquez – went off without a hitch, Goiti Yamauchi missed big. The longtime Bellator vet weighed in at 162.8, missing his contracted non-title lightweight limit by 6.8 pounds. Opponent Nate Andrews wisely took a pass, as Andrews’ manager Tyson Chartier explained.
Andrews fight is off. We are sorry to Nates friends, family, and fans but 6+ lbs is too big of a risk to take. We are obviously bummed but it is what it is. Thanks to Bellator for everything and we are excited to make our debut early 2021. #Bellator254
— Tyson Chartier (@TysonChartier) December 9, 2020
This is Yamauchi’s second consecutive miss; he weighed in at 157.8 pounds vs. Daron Cruickshank at Bellator 237 on December 28, 2019, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Yamauchi won in Round 1 via Rear Naked choke, adding injury to insult.
Andrews will now leave with his show money only, as he was robbed of the shot at winning his win money too. Yamauchi appropriately leaves with nothing.
The current weigh-in process in mixed martial arts is irretrievably broken, but missing twice in a row has to have serious consequences. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, Bellator MMA has held the last six events, and Thursday’s show at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Mohegan tribe commission head Mike Mazzulli is one of the best regulators in the history of the sport, and there will doubtless be further steps taken with Yamauchi in the interests of fighter health and safety, and fairness. But it’s impossible for commissions to adequately address the issue one by one, on a case by case basis.
Bellator 254 official weigh-ins results:
Main Card
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (124.8) vs. Juliana Velasquez (124.4)
Magomed Magomedov (136) vs. Matheus Mattos (135.2)
Goiti Yamauchi (162.8) vs. Nate Andrews (155.8)
Linton Vassell (239) vs. Ronny Markes (252.1)
Davion Franklin (264) vs. Anthony Garrett (241)**
Prelim Card
Robson Gracie Jr. (170) vs. Billy Goff (169.8)
Kenny Champion (144.7) vs. Cody Law (145)
Romero Cotton (185.1) vs. Justin Sumter (184.7)
Kemran Lachinov (170.9) vs. Shamil Nikaev (170.3)
Maurice Jackson (201.3) vs. Grant Neal (204.9)
Bellator 254 ceremonial weigh-ins will stream live at 2:00 p.m. ET:
*Fight is canceled due to weight miss.
••Moved up from undercard due to Goiti Yamauchi weight fail.
