Aaron Tau’s Weigh-In Controversy Cancels UFC 325 Bout

The drama and intensity of fight week reached a fever pitch at the UFC 325 official weigh-ins in Sydney, Australia, as a bizarre sequence involving Aaron Tau cast a shadow over the highly anticipated Road to UFC flyweight tournament final. While the main event featherweight title rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes remained intact, all eyes were on Tau’s tumultuous attempt to make weight—and the fallout that followed.

On January 30, 2026, fighters gathered at the Qudos Bank Arena to tip the scales ahead of Saturday’s event, which marks the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to Australia for the first time this year. The weigh-ins, held at the fighter hotel and streamed globally, began smoothly enough. The main card’s headliners, Alexander Volkanovski (27-4) and Diego Lopes (27-7), both hit the featherweight championship mark at 145 pounds, setting the stage for a thrilling rematch. Volkanovski, the Australian favorite and two-time featherweight champion, looked dialed in as he prepares to defend his belt after reclaiming it last April with a unanimous decision over Lopes at UFC 314. Lopes, for his part, earned his way back to title contention with a stunning spinning back elbow knockout of Jean Silva in September and victories over notable contenders like Brian Ortega, Dan Ige, and Sodiq Yusuff.

The co-main event also saw both Dan Hooker and Benoit Saint Denis successfully make weight at 155.75 pounds apiece, utilizing the one-pound allowance for non-title bouts. The rest of the card, including marquee names like Rafael Fiziev, Tai Tuivasa, and Jamie Mullarkey, checked in without incident. But it was the Road to UFC flyweight final, scheduled to determine who would earn a coveted UFC contract, that spiraled into controversy and confusion.

Kiwi mixed martial artist Aaron Tau, 32, was set to face Mongolian standout Namsrai Batbayar in a bout that had fans and pundits buzzing. Tau, who had fought his way back into UFC consideration after a setback on the Contender Series in 2024, was riding high after two impressive wins in the Road to UFC 4 flyweight tournament. But as the weigh-ins neared their conclusion, Tau was conspicuously last to step on the scale, a move that raised eyebrows among observers and commentators alike.

Tau’s initial attempt at the scales was shrouded—literally—in mystery. Hidden behind a privacy barrier, he stripped down and, according to multiple reports, placed his elbows on the curtain for support. When UFC play-by-play announcer Jon Anik read out Tau’s weight as 122.5 pounds—well below the 125-pound flyweight limit—confusion rippled through the room. "Aaron Tau weighs in at 122.5 which is very low for the weight (125)," commented a surprised Chris Weidman on the official weigh-in show, echoing the sentiment of many watching the scene unfold in real time.

The commission, clearly skeptical, ordered Tau to re-weigh without the box and privacy curtain. This time, the scales tipped at a staggering 129 pounds—seven pounds heavier than his previous reading and three to four pounds over the divisional limit, depending on which standard was being referenced. The rapid swing in numbers left the weigh-in hosts, including Dan Hellie, Robert Whittaker, Michael Chiesa, and Weidman, scratching their heads. Speculation immediately erupted that Tau had attempted a version of the infamous "DC towel trick," a reference to Daniel Cormier’s controversial weigh-in moment years prior. "They questioned if maybe he was using his elbows to push down on the curtain and make himself lighter," noted the broadcast team, encapsulating the sense of disbelief that swept through the MMA community.

The fallout was immediate. UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard took to the "Weigh-in Show" to announce that the Road to UFC flyweight final between Tau and Batbayar was officially canceled. Promotion officials confirmed the news on social media, stating, "The Road to UFC flyweight final between Aaron Tau and Namsrai Batbayar has been canceled from UFC 325 due to weight miss." The abrupt cancellation not only dashed Tau’s hopes of earning a UFC contract on Saturday but also left Batbayar’s future up in the air. As of press time, it remained unclear whether Batbayar would be awarded the tournament win by default, be matched with a new opponent, or have the fight rebooked for a later date. The uncertainty only added to the intrigue and frustration swirling around the situation.

Despite the controversy, the rest of the Road to UFC tournament finals are set to go ahead as planned on the preliminary card. Lightweight finalists Dom Mar Fan and Sung Wook Kim, featherweight contenders Keiichiro Nakamura and Sebastian Szalay, and bantamweights Lawrence Lui and Sulang Rangbo all made weight and will compete for their own UFC contracts. The main card, featuring Volkanovski vs. Lopes and a host of other compelling matchups, remains fully intact, promising a night of high-stakes action for fans tuning in around the world.

For Tau, the missed opportunity is a bitter pill to swallow. The New Zealander’s journey back to the UFC spotlight had been a story of perseverance, but the weigh-in debacle now overshadows his recent successes. As for Batbayar, the Mongolian flyweight’s immediate future is uncertain, though his professionalism at the scales—coming in at 126 pounds, within the allowable one-pound overage for non-title fights—has drawn praise from observers.

The incident has reignited discussions about weigh-in protocols and the lengths some fighters might go to in order to make weight. While the "towel trick" has become part of MMA lore, the commission’s quick response and insistence on a second, unassisted weigh-in sent a clear message about the importance of fairness and transparency in the sport.

With the weigh-in controversy now in the rearview mirror, attention shifts back to the action inside the Octagon. Volkanovski and Lopes are poised to deliver another classic in their featherweight title rematch, with both men making weight and looking sharp in their final face-off. The rest of the UFC 325 card, stacked with talent from top to bottom, is set to proceed as scheduled, ensuring that fans in Sydney and around the world will still get their fill of world-class MMA—albeit with one less fight than originally planned.

As the lights come up at Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday night, the focus will be on the athletes who made it to the cage, the champions defending their belts, and the new stars hoping to seize their moment. The Road to UFC flyweight final may have been derailed, but the spirit of competition—and the unpredictability that makes MMA so captivating—remains alive and well at UFC 325.