Ismael Bonfim didn’t just miss weight, he blew past the non-title fight weight limit by 7.5 pounds and sent UFC fans into a frenzy ahead of UFC Vegas 122. The Brazilian lightweight came in at a whopping 163.5 pounds for his matchup against Francisco Prado, leaving fans wondering how the UFC could keep giving him chances after a miss that massive. And as expected, the backlash came fast.

But here’s the twist: the fight is still expected to go ahead after Prado agreed to compete. Now, Bonfim’s brother and fellow UFC fighter Gabriel Bonfim has stepped in to explain how things went sideways during the weigh-in process.

“Hey everyone, how’s it going? I’m just dropping by quickly to talk about what happened with Ismael, since a lot of people are asking about it,” Gabriel said in a video shared on Instagram Stories and reposted by his brother. “Ismael was almost at weight—he was off by a maximum of 1 kg, so he was really close.

“When we went to check his weight on the UFC scale, he started feeling a bit unwell. Our team, together with the UFC, decided to rehydrate him a little so he could make weight and keep the fight alive.”

Gabriel also explained that the team made the call to keep the fight alive and was grateful that Francisco Prado agreed to step in despite the massive weight miss.

“And thank God, it worked out,” he continued. “His opponent accepted the fight, so nothing changed. God knows all things; we aren’t in control of everything. So that’s it—let’s go get ’em. Tomorrow is a day for war—amen—a day for victory. Let’s do this.”

While Bonfim’s miss dominated headlines, two other fighters also struggled on the scales ahead of UFC Vegas 122. Ketlen Souza weighed in at 117 pounds for her strawweight clash against Loopy Godinez, while Brendson Ribeiro came in 2.5 pounds over the light heavyweight limit. The weigh-in drama, therefore, extended beyond ‘Marreta.’

The UFC confirmed that the 30-year-old would give up 25% of his purse to Prado, while Souza and Ribeiro would each forfeit 20% to their respective opponents. Despite all three weight misses, every fight was allowed to stay on the card.

Off the scales, Bonfim’s record inside the Octagon compounds the problem: three straight losses. He now sits at 2-4 in the UFC after winning two of his first three fights with the promotion. It’s a worrying run heading into another must-win fight.

All three losses came by stoppage, raising the stakes for his clash with Francisco Prado. The Argentinian isn’t exactly riding high either, having entered the fight on a four-fight losing streak.

But with ‘Marreta’ already under fire for missing weight by 7.5 pounds, he now has even more pressure to deliver and prove he can get the job done at the required weight.

And if you think this is a one-off mistake, think again. Ismael Bonfim has a history of struggling to make the lightweight limit. Ahead of UFC Sao Paulo in November 2023, he weighed in 3.5 pounds over the non-title lightweight limit. His opponent, Vinc Pichel, refused to take the fight at catchweight, forcing the UFC to scrap the matchup altogether.

Things went south again at UFC Vegas 111 in November 2025, when ‘Marreta’ hit the scales at 161 pounds, five pounds over the limit. Chris Padilla agreed to fight him at catchweight, but Bonfim still couldn’t get the job done and ended up losing.

With repeated issues on the scales and three straight stoppage losses piling up, the Brazilian is running out of room for error. His clash with Prado could be a crucial chance to get his career back on track, but another setback would only intensify questions surrounding his future. In fact, fans are already turning on the Brazilian.

Fans demand UFC cut Ismael Bonfim after latest weight miss

Ismael Bonfim’s latest weigh-in has sparked a wave of criticism, with fans questioning how he continues to receive opportunities despite repeated failures to make the lightweight limit.

Some called for the UFC to release him immediately, with one fan writing, “What? He needs to be cut asap!” Another asked, “How is this guy still employed?”

Others focused on his losing streak and suggested that another defeat against Prado should spell the end of his UFC run. “Loses all the time and misses weight, this bum needs to be cut wtf is this s— haha,” one reaction read, while another demanded, “Wow cut this bum now. Didn’t even try.”

The criticism became even harsher as fans pointed to the scale as a recurring problem rather than an isolated mistake. “GET RID OF THIS BUM! Sick of these weight bullies who never make weight,” one fan wrote.

Another questioned Ismael Bonfim’s conduct during the weigh-in, saying, “He walked up knowing acting like he had a tough weight cut was a f—– loser.”

Several others echoed the call for the promotion to take action after multiple incidents. “Buddy needs to be cut asap. Missing weight 3x is wild,” one comment read, while another simply wrote, “Cut this clown, my god.”

Another loss would deepen the pressure on Bonfim, whose three-fight skid and repeated weight misses have put his UFC future under scrutiny. Prado, meanwhile, has a chance to snap his own four-fight losing streak against an opponent already facing questions over his place in the promotion.