Contender Series Weigh-in Results: Joshua Weems Misses Bantamweight Mark

There was one mishap on the scales during Monday’s weigh-ins for Week 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series.

Joshua Weems tipped the scales at 139 pounds for his bantamweight clash against Fernando Garcia. As a result, Weems has been fined 20 percent of his purse. All of the nine other athletes slated for action — including Garcia (136 pounds) — hit their contracted marks without issue.

The Contender Series takes place on Tuesday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and airs on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The featured bout of the evenign is a welterweight clash pitting Shimon Smotritsky (170.5) against Mike Malott (170.5).

Israel’s Smotritsky is just 21 years old but has compiled a 7-0 record since turning pro in 2016. Most recently, “Assassin” took a split decision over Sergey Yaskovets at Russian Cagefighting Championship 8 in December 2020. He also owns a pair of victories under the Bellator MMA banner.

Malott, who is anchored at Team Alpha Male, has been victorious in six of eight professional appearances. His most noteworthy bout came at World Series of Fighting 14, where he suffered a first-round TKO defeat to UFC talent Hakeem Dawodu in October 2014. Malott returned following more than a three-year absence at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 91, where he submitted Solomon Renfro in the opening stanza this past December.

Contender Series Weigh-in Results:

Shimon Smotritsky (170.5) vs. Mike Malott (170.5)
Daniel Barez (126) vs. Carlos Hernandez (125.5)
Joshua Weems (139)* vs. Fernando Garcia (136)
Shonte Barnes (185) vs. Joseph Holmes (186)
Patrik White (155.5) vs. Genaro Valdez (155.5)

*Weems missed weight by three pounds and has been fined 20 percent of his purse.