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

Weidman accuses Vitor Belfort of cheating on eve of middleweight title bout

UFC 187

L.E. Baskow

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

UFC 187: Weigh-In

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman responds verbally to contender Vitor Belfort while being separated by president Dana White during their UFC 187 weigh ins at the MGM Grand Ballroom on Friday, May 22, 2015. Launch slideshow »

UFC 187 Fighter Open Workouts

Anthony Johnson, the No. 1 UFC light heavyweight contender, answers questions from the media during the UFC 187 open workouts at the MGM Grand Casino on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Launch slideshow »

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

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

Weidman went straight at Belfort before their staredown photo, forcing UFC President Dana White to 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 on the stage afterwards.

The bout between Weidman and Belfort has been delayed for nearly two years, in part due to complications from the latter’s use of testosterone replacement therapy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission outlawed the formerly legal therapeutic use exemption for testosterone last year, and Belfort 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 a failed post-fight drug test in 2006 — but had eased off leading up to the fight until Friday. Weidman was angered that Belfort reportedly registered high for testosterone again in a random out of competition test.

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

Belfort turned his back on Weidman before walking off stage at the weigh-in. UFC commentator Joe Rogan 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 187 main event after Weidman and Belfort tangle in the co-main, appeared cordial at their face-off and shared a hug before backing away from each other. Cormier shared some choice words when he got the 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 Johnson is 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 Brazilian veteran 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 120 pounds for her women’s strawweight bout against Rose Namajunas (116). Namajunas and Ansaroff kept their distance and embraced after the staredown, making their fight one of the rare ones at UFC 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 [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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