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Tag: Aaron Tau

  • Aaron Tau Released by UFC After Weigh-In Incident

    Aaron Tau Released by UFC After Weigh-In Incident

    The UFC has officially cut ties with Aaron Tau following a weigh-in manipulation incident ahead of UFC 325 in Sydney, Australia. MMA Ecosystem was the first to report the news, which was later confirmed by MMA Fighting.

    What Happened at the UFC 325 Weigh-Ins

    Tau, a Road to UFC Season 4 flyweight finalist, was scheduled to face Namsrai Batbayar in the tournament final on the UFC 325 undercard on January 31. The winner would have earned a UFC contract.

    During the official weigh-ins at Qudos Bank Arena on January 30, Tau weighed in behind a privacy box and initially registered at 122.5 pounds — well below the 126-pound flyweight non-title limit. The unusually low number raised immediate suspicion from officials, who ordered a re-weigh without the box. Tau then tipped the scales at 129 pounds, three pounds over the limit and a seven-pound discrepancy from the first reading.

    Officials and broadcast analysts concluded that Tau had been resting his arms on the privacy box to reduce the weight registered on the scale — a tactic reminiscent of the “towel trick” famously used by former champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 210. The fight was promptly canceled.

    UFC Initially Planned to Rebook the Fight

    Notably, the UFC did not immediately release Tau. During the UFC 325 broadcast, commentator John Gooden stated that the Tau vs. Batbayar bout would be rescheduled for a future date. However, the promotion reversed course and has now cut Tau from its roster entirely.

    In a related development, Yin Shuai â€” who lost to Tau in the Road to UFC semifinals — is expected to receive a second chance and face Batbayar for a UFC contract later this year.

    Tau’s Path to UFC 325

    The 32-year-old New Zealander, who trains at City Kickboxing in Auckland, held an 11-1 professional record entering the tournament final. Tau first attempted to reach the UFC through Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024, where he lost a unanimous decision to Elijah Smith at bantamweight.

    Tau later dropped to flyweight and earned a spot on Road to UFC Season 4, picking up wins over Rio Tirto and Shuai Yin to advance to the final. The weigh-in incident ended what was his closest opportunity to securing a UFC contract.

    Tau’s Apology

    Following the weigh-in debacle, Tau posted an apology on Instagram, though he did not directly address the scale manipulation. “I need to apologize to my opponent, the UFC, my team, and my fans,” Tau wrote. “Though I pushed to the end, I have one job, to make weight and fight. I didn’t do that. I’m sorry.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DUJ7uOEE33g

  • This UFC Fighter’s Weigh-In Cheat Attempt Just Cost Aaron Tau His Contract Shot

    This UFC Fighter’s Weigh-In Cheat Attempt Just Cost Aaron Tau His Contract Shot

    New Zealand flyweight Aaron Tau found himself at the center of a weigh-in controversy on Friday at UFC 325 in Sydney when officials caught him attempting to manipulate the scales.

    Aaron Tau’s Weigh-In Cheat Attempt Cancels UFC 325 Bout

    The 32-year-old fighter was the first to step on the scales during the official weigh-ins at Qudos Bank Arena. Tau initially weighed in behind a privacy curtain and registered at 122.5 pounds, which raised immediate suspicion among commentators as it was 3.5 pounds below the 126-pound flyweight non-title limit.

    Officials quickly ordered a second weigh-in without the privacy box. This time, Tau stepped on the scales at 129 pounds, three pounds over the divisional limit and a staggering seven pounds heavier than his first attempt. The dramatic weight swing led analysts on the live broadcast and those in the room to speculate that Tau had been resting his elbows on the curtain to reduce his measured weight.

    The tactic mirrors the infamous “Towel trick” from 2017, when former light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier admitted to placing his hands on a towel during his weigh-in for UFC 210 against Anthony Johnson. Cormier revealed during his UFC Hall of Fame induction speech that his nutritionist reminded him of the old wrestling trick when he initially missed weight by 1.2 pounds. Unlike Cormier’s successful attempt, Tau’s effort was immediately detected.

    UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard announced during the weigh-in show that the Road to UFC flyweight final between Tau and Namsrai Batbayar had been cancelled. The fight was scheduled to serve as both the tournament finale and an early prelim bout on the UFC 325 card, which is headlined by a featherweight championship rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes.

    The cancellation represents a significant setback for Tau, who trains at City Kickboxing in Auckland and held an 11-1 professional record. He had advanced to the final after securing victories over Rio Tirto and Shuai Yin in earlier rounds of the Road to UFC Season 4 tournament. Tau’s only previous loss came on Dana White’s Contender Series in September 2024 against Elijah Smith.

    The incident leaves Batbayar, who successfully made weight at 126 pounds, without an opponent and uncertain about his future UFC contract opportunity. Road to UFC tournament winners typically receive multi-fight UFC contracts, making the stakes particularly high for both competitors.