Aspen Ladd is an interesting case. Ladd is 27 and has been with the UFC since 2017 – yet she’s still unable to get her weight under control.
Ladd has an MMA record consisting of 9 wins and 3 losses having lost the last 2 in a row. Ladd was booked to face 2nd oldest mixed martial artist in the division in Sara McMann but the bout was called off yesterday as a result of Ladd’s critical weight miss
UFC bantamweight contender Aspen Ladd missed weight for her bout this weekend by 3 pounds.
UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs Song is set to be held this weekend on September 17 and will take place at UFC Apex arena. The headliner will be a bantamweight bout between top contenders Cory Sandhagen and Song Yadong. Unfortunately, one match up for this event had to be scrapped.
Aspen Ladd was slated to be featured on the preliminary card. She weighed two pounds heavier than the women’s bantamweight limit (one pound allowance for non title fights). UFC announced this news on their official website.
It’s especially interesting considering that Ladd claimed weight cut issues were behind her just 2 days earlier saying:
“I think it’s finally all coming together as far as how I’m feeling physically and how I’m able to perform and I’ve definitely changed my body in a way where the weight cuts are not as brutal as it used to be at all. So everything’s working out.”
Ladd is also not very tall so it’s eyebrow raising that she’s unable to maintain her weight. Aspen Ladd is 5’6″.
Aspen Ladd is known for weight issues throughout her career as a professional mixed martial artist. The 27-year-old competed at catchweight back in 2016 within the women-only MMA promotion Invicta FC.
Not just that, after she joined the UFC in 2017, she missed weight in 2018 for her bout against Leslie Smith. Smith refused to allow for an overweight opponent and the UFC canceled the match.
McMann penned a post explaining that failure to make weight is an attempt to cheat.
“What to even say… I’m really disappointed that things went the way they did. I’ve never once missed weight in my career in wrestling or fighting. Missing weight is the equivalent of cheating.”
“You gain such an advantage for every pound that you don’t have to cut. I wish that the promotions and commissions would change the policies so this isn’t even an option at this professional level.”
“That being said, the ufc took very good care of me for coming in and doing my job like always. I wish I had been able to compete and show the hard work and growth I’ve made since the last fight. I’ll keep sharpening the ax and do some BJJ tournaments in the meantime until my next fight is scheduled. Thanks for everyone who has reached out, you’re the best!!”
In 2019, Aspen Ladd managed to make weight for her bout with Germaine de Randamie. However, she drew concerns after shaking while stepping on the scale. This force weight cutting surely affected her performance. Ladd suffered a devastating loss after getting knocked out just 16 seconds into the first round.
In October of last year, Ladd missed weight again and her bout with Macy Chiasson was canceled. The California native then competed at women’s featherweight against Norma Dumont but lost via decision. She returned to bantamweight division Raquel Pennington back in April which was her most recent bout. She lost that as well.
In addition to her weight cut issues, Ladd also attracted the scrutiny of the public due to her relationship with longtime (and much older coach) Jim West. West came under fire when he berated Ladd for her performance in the octagon and subsequently had to apologize.
He has yet to address why he’s dating and rumored to be engaged to a martial arts student he met when she was (at best) 17 years old.