Alexa Grasso apologizes for missing weight at UFC 246, moves up to flyweight

Alexa Grasso is moving up to 125 pounds.

The former Invicta FC star took to social media Saturday to apologize for missing weight for her UFC 246 bout with Brazilian Claudia Gadelha (17-4-0). Grasso weighed in at 5.5 pounds over the NSAC 116 pound limit, forcing the bout to be cancelled by the commission doctors despite both fighters agreeing to a catchweight.

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I want to apologize to Claudia Gadelha and the UFC I know this is a fight all were waiting a lot, including me. I trained very much for this and I did everything to lose those pounds. The commission did not allow our combat although my opponent and I agreed with the sanction this implied for me. The doctors did not allow me to compete. You don’t know how difficult it has been lately to keep me in this weigh class. It was not a lack of discipline because even if I do not have a fight I’m ALWAYS on diet. I turned 26 and my body is not the same, I am growing and I am in this biological process where my metabolism is changing. I have lived in recent years to the limit of what a body needs to be healthy, and yet I have always fulfilled my obligations. Let's not talk about a flu or if my period is crossed because that added to the diet had made the weigh cuts a real suffering. I never complain or tell these things because I am not that kind of person and I always show you my best attitude. My team and I have decided that the smartest and healthiest thing to do is to be in other weigh class. With all the respect that it deserves and of course pain in my heart I say goodbye to the strawweight division 115 LB This year has a different goal for me and I officially move to Flyweight 125 LB I know that at this weight I will be healthier and stronger giving my body all the nutrients it needs. Thanks to all the people who support me, my Lobo team and my coaches who are with me every day and know that what I do is completely a commitment to my sport and my career. I start a new stage in my life!

A post shared by Alexa Grasso (@alexa_grasso) on Jan 17, 2020 at 7:07pm PST

Grasso (11-3-0) attributed the miss to her natural growing body and changing metabolism. She missed weight once before, but Dana White was supportive when asked about Grasso in the UFC 246 post-fight press conference.

"@AlexaGrasso es una de las personas más dulces que conozco, es una profesional. Estoy seguro de que algo salió mal en su campamento, ha ganado mucho músculo en el último año y creo que puede ser un factor.
Ya quiero verla en 125 libras",

Dana White pic.twitter.com/4iBdK3sIhu

— C. Contreras Legaspi (@CCLegaspi) January 19, 2020

“She is one of the sweetest people I know, she is a professional,” White said. “I’m sure something went wrong in her camp, she has gained a lot of muscle in the last year and I think it may be a factor. I want to see her at 125 pounds.”

Unsurprisingly, Gadelha was not happy about the cancellation.

I worked so hard for this and I was so excited to put in a show for you all tomorrow but unfortunately my fight isn’t gonna happen because my opponent missed weight by 5.5 pounds. I still wanted the fight because I… https://t.co/ihu16bnHiG

— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) January 17, 2020

115lb. Always professional and on point!!
52kg. Sempre profissional e da melhor forma possível!!#teamcg #mma #wmma #ufc246 #ufc https://t.co/UUk1DGzDOJ

— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) January 17, 2020

“Thanks to all the people who support me, my Lobo team and my coaches who are with me everyday and know what I do is a completely commitment to my sport and my career,” Grasso concluded.

“I start a new stage in my life!”

@kenaiandrews