MONTREAL, CANADA – Light heavyweight title challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua received the reception of a Canadian hero on Friday night at the official UFC 113 weigh-ins at the Bell Centre here.
The confident Brazilian assured fans he would prevail on Saturday night in a long awaited rematch against light heavyweight champion and fellow countryman Lyoto Machida.
"I am prepared to show I'm the true champion of the light heavyweight class," Rua said.
Despite a headliner featuring two Brazilians on Canadian soil, anticipation was high as the fighters hit the scale, with cheers of support for Rua from fans wearing his "Bad Boy" T-shirt, to a shower of boos for challenger Machida, as he walked on stage.
The mixed reception was the result of their UFC 104's meeting and the contentious decision that decided it.
"That was a controversial first fight," Machida said. "That's why we're here tomorrow to see who will walk out the true champion."
Welterweights Paul Daley and Josh Koscheck exchanged heated words during the staredown for their co-featured title eliminator.
Koscheck motioned to Daley that he would be putting him to sleep.
Former streetfighting phenomenon Kimbo Slice received the loudest reaction from the frenzied Canadian audience. Slice waved to his supporters as he made weight at 225 pounds.
His opponent Matt Mitrione tipped the scales at 253 pounds. After both fighters weighed in, Mitrione wasted no time going nose-to-nose with Slice as they posed for photos.
Canadians Sam Stout and Patrick Cote received thunderous ovations ahead of their main card bouts against Jeremy Stephens and Alan Belcher, respectively.
In a notable preliminary weigh-in, middleweight Tom Lawlor lived up to his reputation as a charismatic pro wrestling-type by dressing up as UFC pioneer Dan Severn. Nicknamed "The Filthy Mauler," Lawlor even grew Severn's patented mustache.
The partisan crowd cheered Canadian Joe Doerksen, but erupted in laughter for Lawlor's antics as he weighed in for the undercard match-up. Even commentator Joe Rogan poked fun at Lawlor's impersonation as he proclaimed, "Severn has made weight!"
All other fighters weighed in without incident for UFC 113 as the promotion's third event in Canada has been green-lit for Saturday night.
Main Card Bouts:
Lyoto Machida (204) vs. Mauricio Rua (205)
Paul Daley (170) vs. Josh Koscheck (170)
Matt Mitrione (253) vs. Kimbo Slice (225)
Alan Belcher (186) vs. Patrick Cote (184)
Jeremy Stephens (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)
Preliminary Card Bouts:
Joe Doerksen (186) vs. Tom Lawlor (185)
Jonathan Goulet (169) vs. Marcus Davis (169)
Johny Hendricks (170) vs. T.J. Grant (169)
Joey Beltran (239) vs. Tim Hague (266)
Mike Guymon (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (170)
John Salter (185) vs. Jason MacDonald (185)
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