UFC Nashville Weigh-Ins: Njokuani Avoids Scale Scare, All Fighters Officially Cleared for Saturday Showdown

The UFC Nashville weigh-ins concluded with all fighters successfully making weight, though not without some last-minute drama involving Chidi Njokuani. The middle-tier welterweight initially missed weight by 0.5 pounds, creating concern that history might repeat itself after his prior weight mishap. However, Njokuani was granted additional time and returned to the scale to officially weigh in at 170.5 pounds, clearing the way for his bout with Jake Matthews.

Njokuani, currently riding a three-fight win streak, had missed weight for his previous outing in March, when he came in 1.25 pounds over the welterweight limit for a matchup against Elizeu Zaleski. Despite the miss, he knocked out Zaleski in the second round, extending his streak of finishes. At 36 years old, Njokuani has long struggled with the scale, including during his stint in Bellator from 2015 to 2019, where he competed in several catchweight bouts due to similar issues.

This time, though, the veteran salvaged the situation and maintained his fight night eligibility. Njokuani’s weight was later updated showing that his official weight was 170.5 pounds.

With Njokuani's successful second attempt, all fighters on Saturday's card at Bridgestone Arena are officially cleared, including the heavyweight main event between Derrick Lewis and Tallison Teixeira. Lewis, one of the UFC’s most popular knockout artists, came in at a leaner 261 pounds, while Teixeira—undefeated and looking to make a statement—tipped the scales at 259 pounds.

The co-main event between elite striker Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Brazilian rising star Gabriel Bonfim was also greenlit without issue. Thompson came in at 170.5 pounds, while Bonfim hit the exact non-title limit of 171 pounds.

The main card also includes a compelling featherweight clash between Calvin Kattar and Steve Garcia, both weighing in at the featherweight limit of 146 pounds. Fan favorite Nate Landwehr meets France’s Morgan Charriere, with both fighters also on point at 146 pounds. Meanwhile, Vitor Petrino (249) faces Austen Lane (245) in a heavyweight battle, and Junior Tafa (206) takes on Tuco Tokkos (206) in another high-impact matchup.

On the preliminary card, Chris Curtis (170.5) squares off with Max Griffin (170.25) in a bout with strong implications for the welterweight rankings. Now confirmed, the previously worrisome Njokuani-Matthews bout should add fireworks to the undercard, with Matthews also clocking in at 170.5 pounds.

Additional prelim action includes Lauren Murphy (126) vs. Eduarda Moura (126) in the women’s flyweight division, and a hard-hitting light heavyweight contest between Kennedy Nzechukwu (238) and Valter Walker (244.5).

Lightweight contenders Mike Davis (155.25) and Mitch Ramirez (156) also hit their marks, as did Fatima Kline (115.5) and Melissa Martinez (116) in the strawweight division.

With weight issues resolved and an exciting lineup confirmed, UFC Nashville is set to deliver high-stakes action across multiple divisions, featuring everything from heavyweight showdowns to pivotal welterweight tests. As fight night nears, all eyes are on Derrick Lewis, Stephen Thompson, and a motivated Chidi Njokuani, who narrowly avoided another scale debacle to keep his win streak—and momentum—alive.