UFC Fighter Returns Opponent’s Weight-Cutting Fine in Rare Display of Sportsmanship
Abu Dhabi - Nathaniel Wood has demonstrated an uncommon act of sportsmanship, returning the 20 percent purse deduction levied against his opponent, Jose Delgado, for missing weight at UFC 321 last month.Delgado was penalized for weighing one pound over the 145-pound featherweight limit. Typically, such fines are absorbed by the fighter and transferred to their opponent; however, Wood chose to return the funds to Delgado.
This gesture, unusual within the UFC, highlights a respect for Delgado’s performance despite the weight miss. While Wood secured a unanimous decision victory-a result that sparked debate among fans-he felt Delgado deserved the money, particularly given the financial disparity between the two fighters. the incident underscores the often-overlooked financial pressures faced by up-and-coming UFC athletes and the potential impact of weight-cutting penalties.
“To the people messaging me saying I robbed him, man I gave him his weight miss purse back,” Wood stated on Instagram. He added, “Me personally, I was a bit [annoyed], he’s missed weight. He shouldn’t be fighting at this weight. To me the guy is too big to be making 145lb,hence why he’s missed weight. But it was only one pound and the kid is obviously not on as much money as I’m on. He’s come in and given one hell of a fight. So to me, he deserves his money.”
The decision by Wood to return the fine has been widely praised by fans and observers, offering a rare moment of goodwill within the competitive world of mixed martial arts. It remains to be seen if this act will influence other fighters to consider similar gestures in the future.
