UFC 187 weigh-in: Chris Weidman fumes, Daniel Cormierspeaks out at testy event

L.E. Baskow

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman responds to contender Vitor Belfort while beingseparated by President Dana White during their UFC 187 weigh-in at the MGM Grand Ballroom onFriday, May 22, 2015.

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, May 22, 2015 | 6 p.m.

If UFC 187 fighters release their fists as freely as they did their mouths this afternoon, then theannual Memorial Day pay-per-view card tomorrow night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena shouldeasily surpass its considerable expectations.

Friday's weigh-in at the Grand Ballroom in the MGM's convention center was among the mostcontentious in recent history with several fighters exchanging words, including opponents in bothchampionship fights. The verbal altercation between middleweight champion Chris Weidman, whomade weight at 185 pounds, and challenger Vitor Belfort, who tipped the scales at 184 pounds, wasthe most direct.

Weidman went straight at Belfort before their staredown photo, forcing UFC President Dana Whiteto restrain him as he shouted at the former light heavyweight champion.

"This guy is still cheating and I'm going to make him pay for it tomorrow night," Weidman said onthe stage afterwards.

The bout between Weidman and Belfort has been delayed for nearly two years, in part due tocomplications from the latter's use of testosterone replacement therapy. The Nevada State AthleticCommission outlawed the formerly legal therapeutic use exemption for testosterone last year, andBelfort then failed a test for elevated levels while cycling off the treatment.

Weidman had spoken out against Belfort's checkered history previously -- which also includes afailed post-fight drug test in 2006 -- but had eased off leading up to the fight until Friday. Weidmanwas angered that Belfort reportedly registered high for testosterone again in a random out ofcompetition test.

Belfort passed the exam because his testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio was within range, butWeidman was taken aback upon learning his testosterone was nearly four times lower than hisopponent.

Belfort turned his back on Weidman before walking off stage at the weigh-in. UFC commentator JoeRogan brought him back, but Belfort didn't address Weidman's accusations.

"I'm living a dream," Belfort said. "I'm blessed to be in this sport."

Light heavyweights Daniel Cormier (205) and Anthony Johnson (204.5), who meet in the UFC 187main event after Weidman and Belfort tangle in the co-main, appeared cordial at their face-off andshared a hug before backing away from each other. Cormier shared some choice words when he gotthe microphone in front of him, though.

"I think the world of 'Rumble' as an opponent but the truth is, at the end of the day, Anthony Johnsonis not good enough to beat me," Cormier said.

The even-keeled Johnson stayed characteristically reserved after Cormier's taunt.

"Daniel is entitled to his own opinion," Johnson said. "What's going to matter is tomorrow night.We'll see what happens."

Other intense moments at the weigh-in included an incident between middleweights Uriah Hall (186)and Rafael Natal (185). Hall, a former "The Ultimate Fighter" star, shoved Natal after the Brazilianveteran got in his face and jawed a threat accentuated by a curse.

White separated the two, and had to a second time when Hall went after Natal as he left the stage.The weigh-in's discord only included one fighter missing weight.

In the first Fox Sports 1 televised main card fight, Nina Ansaroff came in over the limit at 120pounds for her women's strawweight bout against Rose Namajunas (116). Namajunas and Ansaroffkept their distance and embraced after the staredown, making their fight one of the rare ones atUFC 187 without any visible animosity.

Check below for the full results from the UFC 187 weigh-in.

Light heavyweight championship bout: Anthony Johnson (204.5) vs. Daniel Cormier (205)

Middleweight championship bout: Chris Weidman (185) vs. Vitor Belfort (184)

Lightweight bout: Donald Cerrone (156) vs. John Makdessi (155.5)

Heavyweight bout: Travis Browne (236.5) vs. Andrei Arlovski (241)

Flyweight bout: Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs. John Moraga (126)

Flyweight bout: John Dodson (125.5) vs. Zach Makovsky (126)

Welterweight bout: Dong Hyun Kim (170.5) vs. Josh Burkman (170.5)

Middleweight bout: Uriah Hall (186) vs. Rafael Natal (185)

Women's strawweight bout: Rose Namajunas (116) vs. Nina Ansaroff (120)

Welterweight bout: Mike Pyle (171) vs. Colby Covington (170.5)

Lightweight bout: Islam Makhachev (155.5) vs. Leo Kuntz (155.5)

Flyweight bout: Justin Scoggins (126) vs. Josh Sampo (126)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Case on Twitter attwitter.com/casekeefer.

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