UFC 145 weigh-in: Wait is over for Jon Jones, Rashad Evans

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, April 20, 2012 | 3 p.m.

ATLANTA — Jon Jones’ older brother whispered two words into the light heavyweight champion’s ear as he made his way to the scale at the Fox Theater to weigh in for tomorrow night’s UFC 145.

“You ready,” asked Arthur Jones, a 6-foot-3, 313-pound defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens.

With that prompt, Jones lost control. The emotion from the prolonged, fiery lead-up to his fight with Rashad Evans finally seemed to get to the 24-year-old as he yelled and bounced around the stage.

If Jones expected anyone to believe his assertion that beating Evans was no more important than any of his other opponents, he can’t anymore.

“It’s a gigantic fight,” Jones said to the packed crowd. “I’m excited to be here, baby.”

Jones (205) and Evans (204) both came in on weight to make their long awaited bout official once and for all.

In a change from the past year, Jones came off as angrier than Evans at the weigh-in. He scowled at Evans while approaching for their stare-down photo, which ended with the two driving their foreheads into each other.

Evans stayed calm before the encounter. The 33-year-old former light heavyweight champion even cracked a smile while he was on the scale.

Evans expressed relief that the exhaustion of pre-fight hype was gone. It went a level above any of his other 12 fights in the UFC.

“There’s been a big difference because of the amount of energy expended through the process,” Evans said. “There’s a lot of emotions, but at the same time, I look forward to stepping in the cage and fighting Jon.”

The Southern fans are just as excited to watch. Not one spectator at the Fox Theater stayed in their seat when Jones and Evans took the stage.

The fans gave Evans a mixed reaction, but Jones was heavily booed. Main-card competitors Rory MacDonald (169.5), Brendan Schaub (237) and Mark Hominick (145.5) received the warmest receptions.

Everyone made weight except John Makdessi, who faces Las Vegas lightweight Anthony Njokuani (156) on the preliminary card. Makdessi came in two pounds over the limit at 158.

Njokuani still accepted the fight, which will now be contested at a catch weight. Makdessi is forced to forfeit 20 percent of his purse.

Check below for full results from the UFC 145 weigh-in.

Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Jon Jones (205) vs. Rashad Evans (204)

Welterweight Bout: Rory MacDonald (169.5) vs. Che Mills (170)

Heavyweight Bout: Brendan Schaub (237) vs. Ben Rothwell (263)

Bantamweight Bout: Miguel Torres (135.5) vs. Michael McDonald (135)

Featherweight Bout: Mark Hominick (145.5) vs. Eddie Yagin (144.5)

Lightweight Bout: Mark Bocek (155) vs. John Alessio (155.5)

Heavyweight Bout: Travis Browne (250) vs. Chad Griggs (248)

Welterweight Bout: Matt Brown (171) vs. Stephen Thompson (171)

Lightweight Bout: John Makdessi (158) vs. Anthony Njokuani (156)

Lightweight Bout: Mac Danzig (155) vs. Efrain Escudero (156)

Welterweight Bout: Keith Wisniewski (170.5) vs. Chris Clements (169)

Featherweight Bout: Marcus Brimage (145) vs. Maximo Blanco (146)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.