Missing weight is one thing, but a recent incident involving a fighter`s actions ahead of a now-canceled title bout against a former UFC competitor is on another level.
Featherweight Jarno Errens entered the biggest stage of mixed martial arts in 2022, coming off a win in Brave CF and seen by some as a promising talent.
However, his two-year stint in the UFC was mostly disappointing, resulting in three losses in four fights.
Following a TKO loss to Youssef Zalal, only the second stoppage defeat of his career, Errens was released and returned to regional promotions.
A win against Caio Machado at Levels Fight League positioned the ex-UFC fighter for a title shot, but these plans dramatically fell apart due to surprising events.
Jarno Errens` Fight Canceled After Opponent`s Massive Weight Miss Claimed
After a positive start since leaving the UFC, Errens was scheduled for the main event of Levels Fight League 18 on June 15, competing for the first-ever LFL featherweight title.
Errens successfully made weight for his title opportunity in his home country of the Netherlands, but major issues arose when his opponent reportedly failed to do so, in a significant way.
An Instagram video from Errens shows the 30-year-old addressing the media after the promotion announced his opponent, Belgium`s Donovan Desmae, allegedly missed the mark by 10 kilograms, which is 22 pounds.
“I aimed to be professional. I did my professional duty,” Errens stated.
“He is not professional. He might be a fighter, but making weight is part of the fight too.”
The news of the claimed weight discrepancy astonished fans.
One fan commented, “How is that even possible?”
Another joked, “22 pounds? Was he aware he had a fight?”
Other commenters implied the miss was predictable given Desmae`s recent weight class history.
“Why book him for a featherweight title fight? His last four bouts were at welterweight.”
Donovan Desmae Disputes LFL`s Weight Miss Claim for Jarno Errens Bout
A 22-pound weight miss, if true, would rank among the most significant scale failures in history.
The widely believed record occurred last year when Danielle Koudou was 38 pounds over the agreed 135 pounds for Ares 23. After a requested change to a 155-pound fight, she still missed by 18 pounds.
However, according to Desmae, the situation is more complex.
The Belgian fighter promptly responded in the comments of Errens` Instagram video, asserting that his opponent was misrepresenting the events.
Desmae, known as `Vegas`, claims LFL canceled the fight for “medical reasons” when he was only three kilograms (6.6 pounds) shy of the target weight.
