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UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira stripped of belt after missing weight

For the first time ever, a UFC champion lost his belt on the scales.

UFC lightweight belt-holder Charles Oliveira missed weight for his title defense at UFC 274 on Friday during weigh-ins, tipping the scales at 155.5 pounds in the 155-pound division. Oliveira was given one hour to lower his weight after initially weighing in at 155.5, but couldn't lose the extra half-pound.

The development means Oliveira will be stripped of his title and the belt will only be available to his opponent Justin Gaethje on Saturday.

The fight will still go on, a UFC spokesperson told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole. Should Oliveira win Saturday, he will be named the UFC's No. 1 title contender and get a chance at earning back his belt in his next fight. He will also forfeit a percentage of his purse for Saturday's fight.

Meanwhile, as Oliveira was cutting weight, Gaethje was already packing the pounds back on after successfully weighing in.

The situation is unprecedented in UFC history, though TSN's Aaron Bronsteter noted a similar situation in 2018 when women's flyweight champion Nicco Montaño was hospitalized due to effects from her weight cut. The bout was canceled and Montaño was stripped of her title.

Oliveira entered the fight with a chance at sealing his status as top dog in arguably UFC's most competitive division. Currently the UFC's record holder in submission wins and finishes, Oliveira captured the lightweight belt with a TKO win over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 in May 2021, then tapped Dustin Poirier as an underdog at UFC 269 last December.

Oliveira's lightweight peers, including the two men he's defeated for the belt, had a diverse set of reactions.

UFC 274 still has a title fight on the card thanks to women's strawweight champion Rose Namajunas' bout against challenger Carla Esparza.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 06: Charles Oliveira of Brazil reacts after failing to make weight, vacating the UFC lightweight championship, during the UFC 274 official weigh-in at the Hyatt Regency hotel on May 06, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Charles Oliveira was a half-pound too heavy to hang onto his UFC lightweight title. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) (Chris Unger via Getty Images)