UFC London’s Melissa Mullins in ‘tears of joy’ at making weight – only for opponent Luana Carolina to fail

British UFC fighter Melissa Mullins was in “tears of joy” as she took to the scales on Friday, only for her opponent to fail to make weight. Mullins, born in Oxford but fighting out of Coventry, was due to face Luana Carolina in the opening bout of UFC London on Saturday, but that contest was cancelled on Friday morning. Mullins had successfully weighed at 136lb, as one of the first fighters on the scale, but the 34-year-old was in tears as she did so.

After a brief period of speculation as to what in particular had made her so emotional, the answer seemed to come in the form of Carolina’s weigh-in – although Mullins later dismissed the idea that her emotions were tied to her opponent’s weight. British UFC fighter Melissa Mullins speaking at the UFC London 2026 media day (UFC) The Brazilian, 32, was 8lb over the 136lb bantamweight limit, coming in at 144lb. She weighed in behind a curtain, seemingly in minimal or no clothing, as fighters often do while struggling to make weight.

Once her weight was read aloud by UFC commentator John Gooden, it was announced that Carolina would be cutting no more weight. Later in the morning, Gooden said: “Due to regulatory reasons, the fight has been cancelled. ” Just one year ago, Carolina’s planned fight with Montana De La Rosa was cancelled for the same reason, as the Brazilian struggled to make weight for a flyweight bout.

UFC London is due to take place at the O2 Arena as usual, and Mullins’s fight with Carolina was due to be the Briton’s fifth in the promotion. She wrote on Instagram: “I made weight and it was definitely a harder cut than I expected! My opponent missed weight by 8lbs officially, and although we agreed to take the fight, the commission used by the UFC are not happy, [they] have pulled the fight from the card!!