Christopher Ewert`s anticipated debut at UFC 317 was abruptly cancelled when he was released by the promotion before even making it to the official weigh-ins.
Ewert was scheduled to compete against fellow newcomer Jackson McVey on Saturday. However, as the weigh-ins commenced on Friday, it was announced that the middleweight bout was off due to Ewert failing to meet weight requirements, resulting in his contract termination.
Following the news, Ewert’s coach, Javier Torres, shared insights into the difficult circumstances of the fight week.
Torres emphasized the team`s significant efforts, stating, “People don’t understand how much we tried… We started the cut at 216 [pounds].” He noted they arrived in Las Vegas at the same weight.
He described a demanding schedule upon arrival: “Our flight was leaving from Phoenix… delayed… we got to Vegas 1 p.m. We did bunch of media, pictures, obligations for UFC.” This left a narrow window for an initial, shorter cutting session.
The intensive weight cutting process, aimed at reaching the middleweight limit, began late Thursday evening. Torres detailed multiple rounds of procedures, including saunas, pads, and mummy wraps. By approximately 1 a.m., Ewert had gotten down to 197.3 pounds. However, about 90 minutes later, he began experiencing cramps, and a subsequent weight check showed little progress.
Torres revealed that upon accepting the fight on less than a week`s notice, they had hoped for a catchweight bout, specifically at 195 pounds, a request they communicated early in the week.
He recounted checking on Ewert early Friday morning: “Chris started getting cramps… I let him rest, he couldn’t sleep…” Despite this, they resumed the strenuous cutting process with running, pads, sauna suits, and mummy wraps until mid-morning.
Torres concluded by highlighting their immense effort, stating, “We did try super f*cking hard. We cut 22 pounds from Wednesday to Friday morning,” underscoring the challenges faced in attempting the significant weight cut on short notice amidst fight week obligations.
