Silva/Belfort make weight -
02-05-2011, 04:18 PM
The matchup they are calling the 'Fight of the Century' in Brazil is nearly here.
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (27-4) and No. 1 contender Vitor Belfort (19-8) each weighed 185 pounds during the UFC 126 weigh-in Friday.
All week, the two have downplayed any notion the fight is personal. But if Friday's interaction was any indication of their true feelings, it appears they lied.
After weighing in, Silva put on a white mask for the traditional staredown, referencing a quote Belfort had used earlier in the week. Before UFC president Dana White eventually stepped in, Silva removed the mask and the two exchanged words.
Shortly after, color commentator Joe Rogan asked the two fighters what was said.
"There's no secret what I said," Silva responded. "You guys came here to watch a show. You're going to see a show."
Belfort said the exchange was Silva's last ploy to gain a psychological advantage over him.
"He wears a mask," Belfort said. "He's a good man, but in the fight he tries to impress people and make fighters afraid of him. I'm going to bring the fight to him tomorrow. He's a good guy, he has a good heart -- but tomorrow's a fight."
All but one of the 22 fighters set to compete at UFC 126 came in at weight. Only welterweight Mike Pierce (11-3) missed the mark, coming in at 172. He was given extra time to lose the necessary pound.
Fan favorites Rich Franklin (28-5) and Forrest Griffin (17-6) both made weight for their co-main event bout.
Much has been made of the size advantage Griffin will enjoy in the fight, and it was already visible Friday. Franklin weighed-in at 203 pounds. Griffin came in at 205.
There also appeared to be no love lost between light heavyweight prospects Jon Jones (11-1) and Ryan Bader (13-0).
Jones refused to look Bader in the eye during the staredown, and the two did not shake hands after. Jones came in at 206 pounds, with Bader at 205.
The UFC 126 event will take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center and is sold out.
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