Jose Aldo's opponent used 'inspirations' to change weight classes at UFC 315

Aiemann Zahabi took advice from Georges St. Pierre's brother to accept the duel in the higher category

Aiemann Zahabi at the official weigh-in UFC 315. Photo: YouTube Reproduction

The turnaround in the duel between José Aldo e Aiemann Zahabi during the weigh-in, it generated a lot of curiosity in the MMA world. During the official measurements, it was announced that the fight would be counted in the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg) and not in the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg) as planned. The Brazilian, very downcast, weighed 64,8 kg and his opponent 64,4 kg.

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After to explain the behind the scenes of the change to 'Sportsnet', when Zahabi was 'warned' that Aldo would not make the weight and then renegotiated the fight with Sean Shelby, the Canadian - who is less than half a kilo away from the agreed weight - revealed that he decided to accept the fight inspired by two names: Firas Zahabi and Georges St-Pierre.

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“You can say no, but the fight goes away. Since they have the five pound difference rule, the fight is basically over. Then my brother said to me: what would X do? Xavier Alaoui, what would he do? He said, 'He will renegotiate. He would accept the fight…'” Zahabi said in the same interview with 'Sportsnet'.

Xavier Alaoui is a gym teammate of Zahabi's and preaches the philosophy of fighters accepting 'anytime, anywhere'.

PUBLICITY:

WithJosé AldoeAiemann Zahabifacing off in the featherweight division, theUFC 315takes place this Saturday (10), in Montreal, Canada, and has as main attractions the welterweight (up to 77,1 kg) and flyweight (up to 56,7 kg) belt disputes, confirmed after the championsBelal Muhammad |eValentina Shevchenko, as well as the challengersJack Della MaddalenaeManon Fiorotovercome challenges against the scale.

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