Dvalishvili reports 19lb weight gain after making UFC 333 bantamweight limit

Merab Dvalishvili says his weight rose by 19lb in five hours after he made the bantamweight limit for UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi. BBC Sport reported that the Georgian and champion Petr Yan each weighed 135lb ahead of their title fight on Saturday, with Dvalishvili subsequently sharing an Instagram video showing a reading of 154lb on a set of scales.

Watch the highlights:

The 35-year-old attributed the increase to drinking water after the weigh-in. In the video, he said he was still recovering and was about to begin eating. The five-hour timeframe and explanation for the change are Dvalishvili's account of his recovery, rather than a separate official weigh-in result. His initial 135lb reading matched that of Russian opponent Yan.

The change illustrates the substantial difference that can develop between a fighter's weight at the official weigh-in and during subsequent rehydration. According to BBC Sport, competitors commonly shed water before weighing in and then regain weight ahead of a bout. That process can give them a physical advantage in competition, although the report also outlined recommendations intended to limit the extent of those changes.

BBC Sport reported that UFC fighters are advised to lose no more than 8% of their body weight during fight week and to remain within 10% of their weight class on fight night. It also noted the promotion's ban on intravenous drips and the guidance available from health professionals through its Performance Institute as measures introduced to improve weight-cutting safety.

Dvalishvili's bout with Yan is the event's co-main attraction. He is seeking to recover the bantamweight championship he lost to Yan last December, while the Russian enters as a two-time champion. The pair also completed their face-off, which BBC Sport described as intense but respectful, after both had met the division's weight requirement.

The main-event fighters likewise made weight. Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski and challenger Movsar Evloev cleared that step before their title contest. Australia's Volkanovski is pursuing a ninth victory in UFC featherweight championship fights, which would be a record, while Russia's Evloev brings an unbeaten record spanning 20 bouts.