Early weigh ins return for UFC Fight Night 89 in Ottawa

Great news for those mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters competing this weekend on FOX Sports 1, but a bit of a bummer for those combat sports fans who enjoy the suspense and emotion of a live weigh in.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), much like it did for the UFC 199 pay-per-view (PPV) event earlier this month in California, will allow its fighters to weigh in earlier in the day (Fri., June 17, 2016), then march them out in front of the cameras later that afternoon.

MMA Fighting explains:

Fighters will be able to weigh-in at the fighter hotel Friday morning between 9 a.m. and noon, rather than the typical 4 p.m. weigh-in time, [Dave] Sholler said. There will still be a "weigh-in" show at 5 p.m. where the official weights gathered earlier in the day will be announced.

Earlier weigh in times reduce the length of dehydration in fighters cutting to make weight.

UFC Fight Night 89, headlined by the welterweight showdown pitting Rory MacDonald against Stephen Thompson, takes place this Sat. night (June 18, 2016) inside TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

For the entire "MacDonald vs. Thompson" fight card and line up click here.