Julija Stoliarenko (red) fights Leah Letson (blue) during a featherweight bout at The Pearl. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Julija Stoliarenko has UFC fight canceled after collapsing twice

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/19/21

Women's bantamweight Julija Stoliarenko won't be competing on Saturday's UFC Fight Night card.

As Marc Raimondi noted for ESPN, Stoliarenko collapsed multiple times attempting to weigh-in for Saturday's showdown with Julia Avila (8-2-0) in Las Vegas.

Scary scene at #UFCVegas22 official weigh-ins as Julija Stoliarenko collapsed multiple times while trying to make weight.

Her fight with Julia Avila has been canceled. pic.twitter.com/myaDSvkNHP
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) March 19, 2021

Even though Stoliarenko clearly struggled on the stage, officials allowed her to prove she made weight before she was helped to the ground by a UFC security team member. The 27-year-old was transported to a local hospital, and the promotion scrapped the fight because of what were referred to as "weight-cutting issues."

Weight-cutting has been a hot-button topic in mixed martial arts and combat sports for decades, and many observers and even some fighters believe organizations such as the Nevada State Athletic Commission and United States Anti-Doping Agency should ban the practice before the unthinkable occurs in front of cameras ahead of a major event.

The entire scene. Really bad. Can’t believe she was allowed to try to get back on the scale, no matter what she said to convince people she was OK. Glad the fight is off and wishing the best for Julija’s health. https://t.co/hKbatMarDx
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) March 19, 2021

Over the past six months, Matt Schnell and Bobby Green of the UFC both encountered health scares related to cutting pounds ahead of weigh-ins.

Stoliarenko fell to Yana Kunitskaya in August after securing five straight victories before that contest. Avila, meanwhile, lost to Sijara Eubanks in September in her most recent UFC appearance.

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