Turns out Dana White was right about the polite press conference on Wednesday. He called it 30 minutes of bull[expletive]. Vitor Belfort and Anderson Silva said little, but White said there was a lot of anger beneath the surface that we weren't seeing.
At today's weigh-in in Las Vegas, the angst between the fighters boiled over.
Silva weighed in, hustled across the stage, put on a mask and got right in Belfort's face. Belfort didn't want to back down and pushed forward. Eventually, Silva took of the mask and the jawing began.
Belfort said Silva was reacting to a comment he made this week. Belfort suggested that Silva puts on a facade in public and in the cage.
"I just know one thing, when you say silly things, when you do silly things, it’s because you’re worried and you’re trying to wear a mask," Belfort said during Thursday’s media workouts. "The way I fight, and the way I am, I have respect. I just need to wear one mask, myself."
Belfort said he wasn't falling for Silva's mind games.
"His actions speak louder than his words. I think he respects me. I just think he wears the mask, trying to intimidate me," Belfort said of Silva’s attempt to spook him. "He can see it in my eyes. I’m on fire. I’m not getting intimidated by anyone."
Silva, as usual wouldn't admit what he said when was trash-talking. He simply indicated that he wasn't happy with Belfort's talking.
Forrest Griffin was shredded as he weighed in at 205 pounds. That's good considering, he gets as heavy as the low 240's between fights. Griffin's also had the last 14 months off recovering from shoulder surgery.
UFC newcomers Donald Cerrone, "Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Miguel Torres got some of the loudest roars of the afternoon.
The most intense fighter was Jon Jones. His staredown with Ryan Bader was classic, as Jones got right in his face and was breathing heavily.
Mike Pierce didn't make weight on his first attempt even though he stripped down to nothing in front of the big Mandalay Bay Events Center crowd.
UFC 126 weigh-in (Courtesy MMAjunkie)
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Forrest Griffin (205) vs. Rich Franklin (203)
Ryan Bader (205) vs. Jon Jones (206)
Jake Ellenberger (171) vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (170)
Antonio Banuelos (136) vs. Miguel Torres (136)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
Paul Kelly (155) vs. Donald Cerrone (155)
Chad Mendes (146) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (146)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Demetrious Johnson (136) vs. Norifumi Yamamoto (135)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Untelevised)
Gabe Ruediger (155) vs. Paul Taylor (156)
Kyle Kingsbury (205) vs. Ricardo Romero (205)
Mike Pierce (171)* vs. Kenny Robertson (170)
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