Yoel Romero missed weight for a potential title shot against UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 225 and would then suffer a split decision loss in a non-title encounter.
There are rules from the Illinois State Athletic Commission (ISAC) stating that a fighter has an additional two hours to cut weight after coming in overweight for a title shot, but Romero and agent Malki Kawa say the fighter was given only an hour to get the job done. Kawa claims that ISAC director Nancy Illg stopped the weight cutting after an hour, while doctors said Romero was healthy enough to cut for another hour, which is why Romero is planning to sue the ISAC.
“We’re gonna sue them,” Malki Kawa said on The MMA Hour. “I’m gonna send the paperwork soon. It’s going out probably this week.”
Romero came in at 185.2 pounds for the title bout, but had to come in exactly at 185 pounds for the middleweight strap to be on the line. Romero, due to the weight miss, was fined 20% of his total fight purse and was deemed ineligible to win any post-fight bonuses.
Abe Kawa, who serves as a second agent for Romero, says the fighter had planned on using the two full hours to make weight for the fight.
“The whole plan was to use those two hours,” Abe Kawa said. “So everything we did from that point going forward in the weight cut was to use those extra two hours slotted to us.”
The ISAC has yet to comment on the matter, it is also unknown at this time as to what kind of damages Romero and his agents are seeking from the lawsuit.
