3 UFC Shanghai Fighters Miss Weight as 2 Bouts Proceed at Catchweight

Q: Why did the UFC mysteriously waive the standard fines for a massive double weight miss in Shanghai?

The UFC appears to have waived the fines because both fighters in that bout missed weight, leaving no compliant opponent to compensate. That is the clearest explanation from the available reporting. UFC officials said Xiong Jingnan and Julia Polastri would still fight at a catchweight and that neither would be fined, while reporter Nolan King noted it was likely “a wash as they both missed.” In standard UFC practice, a fighter who misses weight usually forfeits a percentage of their purse to the opponent who made weight. Here, because neither woman made the 116-pound limit, there was no on-weight opponent to receive that penalty in the usual way. The handling in Shanghai also fits a recent UFC pattern. Earlier in 2026, when Eduarda Moura and Wang Cong both missed weight for the same bout, the promotion similarly chose not to penalize either fighter. By contrast, Andre Lima was fined 20 percent in Shanghai because his opponent, Namsrai Batbayar, did make weight. What remains unclear is whether the UFC had any additional behind-the-scenes reasons, such as logistical concerns, short-notice circumstances or medical discretion. The promotion has not publicly offered a fuller explanation beyond confirming no fines. Based on the precedent and the purse-forfeiture structure, the most likely reason is administrative: when both sides miss, the usual fine-to-opponent mechanism does not neatly apply.

Q: After a costly second weight miss, is Andre Lima's future in the UFC hanging by a thread?

Not yet, but Andre Lima has put himself under real pressure. Lima missed the flyweight limit at UFC Shanghai, coming in at 127 pounds and losing 20 percent of his purse. More damaging is that it is his second UFC weight miss. He also missed badly for his bout with Mitch Raposo in 2024, coming in four pounds heavy. Repeated misses matter in the UFC because they raise doubts about professionalism, reliability and whether a fighter can safely remain in the division. That said, one miss by a pound does not usually put a promising fighter “on the chopping block” by itself, especially when the bout stays on the card. Lima still has upside, name value and prior results in the promotion. Before this weigh-in issue, he had built a reputation as a rising flyweight prospect, and the UFC has historically given talented young fighters chances to correct recurring problems, particularly if they win and remain competitive. The bigger issue is what comes next. Lima had already hinted at a possible move to bantamweight after earlier struggles with the scale. If he misses again at 125, the UFC could strongly push him up a division or begin to question his roster security. Fighters who repeatedly miss weight also risk losing leverage in matchmaking, bonus opportunities and the promotion’s trust. So his future is not hanging by a thread today, but another weight failure would make it a serious roster issue very quickly.

3 articles · Updated · MMA Fighting · Aug 28

Xiong Jingnan, Julia Polastri and Andre Lima all came in heavy at Friday’s UFC Shanghai weigh-ins, but Saturday’s card still moves forward with 26 fighters.
117-pound Xiong and 118.5-pound Polastri both missed the strawweight limit in a rare double mishap; the UFC said neither will be penalized and their prelim bout shifts to a catchweight.
127-pound Lima was one pound over the flyweight limit for his fight with Namsrai Batbayar, drawing a 20% purse fine while that matchup also proceeds at a catchweight.
135.5-pound Umar Nurmagomedov and 136-pound Song Yadong made weight for the bantamweight main event, preserving the headline bout.
Lima’s miss is his second in the UFC after coming in four pounds heavy at UFC 302 in May 2024, adding scrutiny as he seeks a rebound from his first pro loss in June.