UFC's Drew Dober plans lightweight return after next fight despite CSAC order to move up

UFC veteran Drew Dober said his fight with Frank Camacho doesn’t signal a permanent move to welterweight.

Afterward, Dober (18-8 MMA, 4-4 UFC) plans to return to the lightweight division despite an order from the California State Athletic Commission to move up in weight.

“I appreciate the effort and people being concerned about my health, but I think I’m most competitive at lightweight,” Dober, who faces Camacho (21-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC on FOX 27, told MMAjunkie.

Dober, who’s never missed weight for a UFC bout, was the first of several athletes identified by the CSAC as cutting an unhealthy number of pounds. After a knockout win over Josh Burkman at UFC 214, Dober said his pre-fight weight check triggered the order, which requires him to receive doctor’s clearance if he wants to remain at lightweight.

Per a new 10-point plan to curtail extreme weight cutting in MMA, the CSAC checks athletes on the scale prior to the official weigh-ins. Fighters who show up on fight week over 10 percent above their weight class are ordered to move up. This applies only for events in the state.

“They didn’t like it very much, but it’s still healthy,” Dober said of the CSAC. “I did it with science and working with (nutritionist) George Lockhart.”

Dober didn’t say whether he’s received doctor’s clearance. But the commission’s order has affected his career. He said his fight with Camacho, which serves on the UFC Fight Pass-streamed portion of the Jan. 27 card, was initially put together as a lightweight fight before the promotion encountered static from the North Carolina Boxing Authority, which regulates the event at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.

Both fighters’ history factored into the snag. Camacho missed weight for his previous UFC bout, which took place at UFC Fight Night 121.

“I was approached with, they have a hard time licensing my fight at lightweight, considering him missing weight and me having CSAC complain about me,” Dober said. “So I was like, ‘Let’s do a catchweight.’ UFC doesn’t really like doing catchweight, so I just said I’ll fight him at 170 (pounds).”

But after this fight, Dober said the UFC has signed off on allowing him to compete at lightweight. Although he still believes the recently created 165-pound division could be his most natural home, he said he has the ability to fight at both lightweight and welterweight.

“I’m in that beautiful sweet spot,” Dober said. “I think I’m going to be most competitive at lightweight, but I can take a fight at welterweight, depending on the opponent.

“(A 165-pound division would be) fantastic. I don’t think it’s going to happen any time soon, so I’m not going to put any eggs in that basket. My goal is to take as many fights at lightweight as possible.”

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