When Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was on the prowl for a UFC 230 main event, matchmakers briefly considered having Sijara Eubanks fight Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant 125-pound strap, until the Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis title fight became available, sending “Sarj” to the FOX Sports 1 preliminary card and “Bullet” back to her original spot at UFC 231.
Looks like that was the right call after all was said and done.
That’s because Eubanks, who ripped into promotion president Dana White for taking away her potential title shot, was unable to make the flyweight limit for her Roxanne Modafferi fight this Saturday night (Nov. 3, 2018) in New York City, coming in at 127.2 while losing 20-percent of her purse in the process.
It should be noted the cutoff for this bout was 126, courtesy of the one-pound allowance afforded in non-title fights. For Shevchenko, Eubanks would have needed to hit 125 on the button, something she failed to do in her first championship opportunity roughly one year back.
“First of all, I’m a champion, point blank,” Eubanks said after being hospitalized ahead of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 26 Finale. “I’m a gangster and I’ve cut more weight than most male fighters, and unfortunately there were some miscalculations this cut, no excuses, I worked my ass off and went out on my shield.”
No question this repeat performance will have the promotion pushing her to compete at bantamweight, as it would be difficult to book her for a title fight with any confidence that she can make her mark.