Brazil's Santos fails weigh-in for bout

One FC Championship welterweight title holder Ben Askren (left) weighed in at 169.5 pounds - a shade under the 170-pound (77.1kg) limit - at the weigh-in at Bugis+. But his opponent Santos ran afoul of the scales, coming in at 172 pounds. He will be
One FC Championship welterweight title holder Ben Askren (left) weighed in at 169.5 pounds - a shade under the 170-pound (77.1kg) limit - at the weigh-in at Bugis+. But his opponent Santos ran afoul of the scales, coming in at 172 pounds. He will be given until today to shed the extra weight. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

Tonight's much-anticipated rematch between One Championship welterweight world champion Ben Askren and Luis Santos is in danger of being called off at the 11th hour, after the Brazilian failed to make the stipulated weight last night.

While the American weighed in at 169.5 pounds - a shade under the 170-pound (77.1kg) limit - at the weigh-in at Bugis+, his opponent ran afoul of the scales, coming in at 172 pounds. He has another chance to make the weight today.

Despite the two-hour window allowed to shed the extra weight, the South American jiu-jitsu specialist was unsuccessful. The duo's previous fight in the Philippines in April ended in a no-contest after Askren accidentally poked his opponent in the eye.

Askren, 31, has been desperate to prove himself since and declared yesterday: "It was a very disappointing way to finish and I always enter the cage looking to win. I can't wait to kick his a**." The former Olympic wrestler took to Twitter to vent his frustrations last night, tweeting: "So sick of amateur Jabronis that refuse to honour the contract put in front of them."

Prior to the dramatic turn of events, Santos, 35, said via a translator: "I can't wait to get into the cage with him again. He didn't fight fair in the last match and I'm going to show him who's the better fighter."

Compatriot Yago Bryan, who is seeking to wrest Thai Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke's strawweight crown, also failed to make the 115lb (52.2kg) limit ahead of the One Championship's Pride of Lions nine-bout card. Bryan came in at 116.5 pounds.

That clash will proceed but will no longer be a championship fight.

Also set to compete at the Singapore Indoor Stadium are local fighters Angela Lee, Amir Khan and Benedict Ang.

After winning her first two fights, strawweight Lee will look to keep the momentum going against Australian Natalie Gonzales Hills.

Amir, meanwhile, squares off against Jimmy Yabo of the Philippines, a solid featherweight contender with a 4-1 record, while Ang takes on Indonesian featherweight veteran Yohan Mulia Legowo (7-3).

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 13, 2015, with the headline Brazil's Santos fails weigh-in for bout. Subscribe