Ismael Bonfim misses weight by 7 1/2 lbs before bout with Francisco Prado

The official weigh-ins ahead of UFC Vegas 122 turned out to be a disaster for Ismael Bonfim.

Ismael Bonfim Misses Weight Prior to Bout with Francisco Prado

Ismael Bonfim is supposed to meet Francisco Prado for a lightweight preliminary bout in UFC Vegas 122. However, when Bonfim stepped onto the scale to make weight, the number definitely gave some anxiety. His weight at 163 1/2 lbs was a whopping 7 1/2 lbs over the set 156-lb limit.

🚨🚨 GIANT WEIGHT MISS ALERT 🚨🚨 Ismail Bonfim comes in 7.5 POUNDS over the lightweight limit for his #UFCVegas122 matchup vs. Francisco Prado. Bout status TBD. https://t.co/ey7ibXyY2s

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 9, 2026

Despite the mishap, the fight remains alive. However, he is now obligated to pay a 25 percent fine of his purse, which will ultimately go to Prado. This was definitely an unforeseen accident. Naturally, fans were as concerned for the fighter as they were curious about the whole situation.

Gabriel Bonfim on Brother's Weight Miss

Bonfim’s brother, UFC welterweight standout Gabriel Bonfim, took to social media to clear the air.

“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.” He clarified in a video posted on his Instagram stories:

“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,".

This video was then reposted by the fighter himself. Although fans empathise with him, they have pointed out a bigger issue that needs to be addressed. That is, this is Bonfim’s third weight miss.

Ismael Bonfim's Recurrent Weight Misses raise Questions

It appears to be a tragic yet recurring accident for Ismael Bonfim to miss weight before his bouts. Even before the latest miss, there were very similar accidents. He weighed 161 lbs before facing Chris Padilla in November 2025. His bout with Vinc Pichel was initially scrapped, then postponed after both the fighters missed their weight.

This raises a larger question about this pattern. Perhaps it is not about the missed weight but the immense load of performance pressure. The fighter had lost in succession to Nazim Sadykhov, Padilla and Axel Sola. This now leaves him with a 2-4 record in the promotion.

Bonfim described the aftermath of his last loss while speaking to Ag Fight before this weekend's event. He gave his coaches, his brother, and his mentor, Gabriel Manzoni, their due flowers for helping him through it.

“This isn't our life; it's our job. Regardless of what happens, life goes on,” Bonfim said.

He spoke about the hopelessness after loss and the much-needed separation of disappointment at work from his life at home. However, the fight between Bonfim and Prado looks promising given that both the fighters desperately need a victory. Fans are eager to see if that very hunger can bring out some iconic moments during the fight.