LAS VEGAS – A frightening scene occurred Friday during Julija Stoliarenko’s weigh-in for UFC on ESPN 21.
Stoliarenko (9-4-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) collapsed twice off the scale as she tried to make weight for her women’s bantamweight bout with Julia Avila, and as a result was taken out on a stretcher.
Less than 15 minutes into the official weigh-in window at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Stoliarenko got up on stage to take her turn. She first sat down on the ledge of the set to take her shoes, socks and pants off, then walked over toward the scale.
As Stoliarenko stepped on, she stumbled backward and fell on her butt, held up only by the signage behind her. UFC staff and medical personnel immediately rushed to tend to her.
It seemed like Stoliarenko regathered her wits after a few seconds. She got back up and stepped on the scale a second time, officially hitting her mark at 135.5 pounds.
Just moments later, though, Stoliarenko fainted again and fell to the floor. She appeared to briefly lose consciousness and looked dazed afterward as she was crowded by medical staff. A stretcher was brought up to the stage, and Stoliarenko was loaded on and taken out of the room.
The UFC later announced that Stoliarenko’s fight with Avila was canceled. The Nevada Athletic Commission declined a request for comment, per UFC officials.
Avila took to social media and sent positive wishes toward Stoliarenko.
“Speedy recovery fellow Julia,” Avila wrote on Twitter. “Your health comes first, hopefully we see each other at another date. Prayers sister.”
Watch the video of the entire incident above.
