Brazilian heavyweight stars Fabricio Werdum and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira are all set for a rematch seven years in the making after both fighters weighed in Friday in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Werdum is seeking redemption since Nogueira beat him by unanimous decision when the two fought in Pride in 2006. He is also seeking his sixth win in his last seven fights and would move closer to a potential title shot if he can get by Big Nog.
Nogueira, meanwhile, is looking for a second straight win that would snap a streak of alternating wins and losses in the Octagon that dates back to 2008.
Both veterans were cordial in front of a boisterous group of fans that took in the action at the Paulo Sarasate Arena — the same venue in which Saturday’s fights will take place — but the same could not be said for every fighter on the card.
Saturday programming alert: Watch UFC on Sportsnet: Nogueira vs. Werdum on Sportsnet ONE at 8 pm ET and catch the live preliminary card on sportsnet.ca starting at 5:15 ET | TV schedule
There were several intense staredowns, including one between light-heavyweight sluggers Thiago Silva and Rafael Cavalcante. After both men came in on weight, Silva attempted to make Cavalcante flinch, however his countryman was having none of it.
Plus, TUF Brazil star Daniel Sarafian went nose to nose with UFC newcomer Eddie Mendez, while rising Brazilian featherweights Godofredo (Pepey) Castro and Felipe Arantes refused to break eye contact until they were escorted offstage.
All fighters made weight on their first attempt, though two notable fighters were absent, as a preliminary middleweight matchup between Derek Brunson and Ronny Markes been cancelled after Markes suffered a concussion following a car accident earlier in the day.
Here are the complete weigh-ins results from UFC on Sportsnet: Nogueira vs. Werdum:
MAIN CARD (Sportsnet ONE at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT)
— Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (237) vs. Fabricio Werdum (242)
— William Macario (170) vs. Leonardo Santos (170)
— Rafael Cavalcante (204) vs. Thiago Silva (206)
— Jason High (170) vs. Erick Silva (170)
— Eddie Mendez (184) vs. Daniel Sarafian (186)
— Rony Jason (146) vs. Mike Wilkinson (145)
PRELIMINARY CARD (sportsnet.ca at 5:15 p.m. ET / 2:15 pm PT)
— Raphael Assuncao (135) vs. Vaughan Lee (134)
— Felipe Arantes (146) vs. Godofredo Castro (146)
— Ildemar Alcantara (171) vs. Leandro Silva (169)
— Rodrigo Damm (146) vs. Mizuto Hirota (146)
— Caio Magalhaes (186) vs. Karlos Vemola (186)
— Antonio Braga Neto (185) vs. Anthony Smith (184)
