UNCASVILLE, Conn. – When Robin van Roosmalen weighed in Friday morning, commissioner Mike Mazulli read “155.25.”
But the bout wasn’t at lightweight. Van Roosmalen (2-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) and his opponent Cris Lencioni (5-2 MMA, 2-2 BMMA) were supposed to fight at a contracted weight of 145 pounds.
Before announcing the official weight, Mazzulli called for the towel. Not surprisingly, Van Roosmalen’s underwear didn’t weigh the difference. Van Roosmalen, his team, and the commission huddled near the scale and discussed the large miss.
After they parted ways, Mazzulli told MMA Junkie he’d be making a notation in van Roosmalen’s file with the Association of Boxing Commissions to keep van Roosmalen from fighting at featherweight again, forcing him to move up to lightweight for future bouts. Mazzulli indicated van Roosmalen was receptive.
“It’s my requirement that there’s a 10-pound difference in weight (to keep a fight from being canceled),” Mazzulli said. “I always tell the fighter. First of all, he’ll be going up in weight. He’ll never ever fight at that weight again. He’s a (kickboxing) world champion in the past. He understands. So he’ll be required to go up in weight. He understands it, he accepted it, everything is fine.
“I wanted to reiterate again that he is going up in weight. He will never fight again at that weight. Everywhere. I’ll put him on the MMA registry that he’s required to be going up in weight.”
Going forward, Mazzulli said he’d like to see promotions and fighters take advantage of catchweight or non-traditional weight class fights.
“I explained to him as him as well – we have fighters fighting at 160,” Mazzulli said. “Paul Daley is fighting at 175. It’s a weight class for me at 160. But it’s a contract weight. I don’t care if he fights at 152. It’s about fighters’ safety and fighters’ health and he understands that.”
Shortly after the miss, Bellator officials told MMA Junkie that the bout between Lencioni and van Roosmalen was canceled. The commission and promotion gave Lencioni the option, and Lencioni declined the fight. Lencioni will be paid his show money.
Robin van Roosmalen's big weight miss cancels Bellator 232 fight, forces him to 155 for future bouts
