A bout for the UFC Middleweight Title between champion Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero will still go on, but now it is a non-title affair after Romero missed weight by 1 pound (1st attempt) and then 0.2 pounds (2nd attempt).
UFC President Dana White confirmed the bout will go on during the UFC 225 weigh-in broadcast that aired on Fox Sports 2. Whittaker, win or lose at UFC 225, is still going to be champion after the event since the title is no longer on the line.
There is no word at this time in the bout will still headline the card or if that opportunity will go to the men fighting for the vacant UFC Interim Welterweight Title in Colby Covington and Rafael Dos Anjos.
Whittaker (19-4-0) was going to be making the first defense of his championship, which was originally an interim title that was won during the first meeting with Romero at UFC 213. Whittaker enters the bout on the strength of an eight fight winning streak and the champion hasn’t suffered a defeat in over four years. Whittaker has only suffered a pair of defeats in UFC competition, with those coming to Court McGee and Stephen Thompson.
Romero (13-2-0) could’ve become the UFC Interim Middleweight Champion when he defeated Luke Rockhold by knockout at UFC 221, but the fighter missed weight for the encounter. Romero has seen his last nine fights go to the third round or beyond, with six of those bouts ending by KO/TKO. Romero has fought just once since the initial meeting with Whittaker, which was the aforementioned win over former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold.
UFC 225 takes place on Saturday, June 9 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois with Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
