LAS VEGAS -- Despite the combined star power and genuine bad blood between them, the majority of the pre-fight narratives surrounding Saturday's welterweight title bout in Las Vegas between WBC titleholder Ryan Garcia and British star Conor Benn has surrounded the weight. Not only did Benn (25-1, 14 KOs), the 29-year-old son of Hall of Famer Nigel Benn, need to make 147 pounds for the first time since 2022 after a recent two-fight run as a middleweight, he will need to be able to retain the stamina and punch resistance to deal with the blazing hand speed and power of Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) when the two meet inside T-Mobile Arena. On Friday, both men came in well under the 147-pound limit to make the bout official.
That's a massive win for fans everywhere, but especially positive for Benn, who himself said he had to endure a lot of suffering to make the weight. His last fight came at 160 pounds and he had not made 147 since 2022. Now, things can focus on what happens inside the ring on Saturday night instead of possible hijinx outside.
Throughout fight week, however, the only person that hasn't appeared too worried about whether the Benn of old will show up this weekend -- despite admitting that he's "been dancing in the pits of hell and had a fight with Satan" throughout the weight cut -- is Benn, himself. every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year! "We will find out, won't we?
Isn't it exciting not knowing the answer? The risk, the challenge, I love it," Benn told CBS Sports Thursday about his weight cut. "Had I been at 160 before [before the pair of 2025 superfights against Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight]?
Had I headlined a stadium before? You thrive off the challenges and thrive off the not knowing. "Will I be the Conor Benn of old?
I think I'll be even better." Garcia, a 28-year-old native of Victorville, California, spent the majority of Thursday's final press conference berating Benn about how much the weight cut will affect him and seemed to take umbrage with Benn's recent comments that this will be his last fight at 147 pounds and that he's considering moving all the way up to super middleweight. "[Benn] is setting up some excuses that he's going to 168. Motherf---er, this is a title shot at 147," Garcia said.
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