Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of the UFC 187: Johnson vs. Cormier weigh-ins from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event airs on pay-per-view on Saturday night at 10 PM ET, with a full slate of preliminary action on UFC Fight Pass starting at 6:30 PM ET before transitioning over to FOX Sports 1 at 8 PM ET. The annual Memorial Day Weekend card marks the ninth straight year the event has been at the MGM Grand.
Two title fights headline one of the most loaded fight cards in recent years as a new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion will be crowned when top contenders Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier look to become the new champion after former champion Jon Jones was stripped of the championship last month. In the co-main event, UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman defends the championship for the third time against top contender Vitor Belfort, a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion who is riding a three-fight win streak. Also on the main card, Donald Cerrone looks for his eighth straight win and a shot at the lightweight title when he fights John Makdessi, heavyweights Travis Browne and Andrei Arlovski meet in a battle of heavy hitters, and flyweights Joseph Benavidez and John Moraga put their respective two-fight win streaks on the line.
Nina Ansaroff who is facing Rose Namajunas weighed in 4 pounds over the limit.
A few of the fighters had to be kept apart, most notably, Weidman and Belfort. They were jawing at each other during the staredown as Dana White kept them apart. Once Weidman got on the mic he accused Vitor of a testing 1200 testostorone level during his camp, and straight up said Vitor was still cheating: “This guy is still cheating and I am going to make him pay for it tomorrow night.”
Cormier and Johnson were much more corrigable and hugged before their staredown.
MAIN CARD (PPV- 10 PM ET/7 PM PT):
Anthony Johnson (205) vs. Daniel Cormier (205)
Chris Weidman (185) vs. Vitor Belfort (184)
Donald Cerrone (156) vs. John Makdessi (155.5)
Travis Browne (236.5) vs. Andrei Arlovski (241)
Joseph Benavidez (125.5) vs. John Moraga (126)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX SPORTS 1- 8 PM ET/5 PM PT):
John Dodson (125.5) vs. Zach Makovsky (126)
Dong Hyun Kim (170.5) vs. Josh Burkman (170.5)
Uriah Hall (186) vs. Rafael Natal (185.5)
Rose Namajunas (116) vs. Nina Ansaroff (120)
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT):
Mike Pyle (171) vs. Colby Covington (170.5)
Islam Makhachev (155.5) vs. Leo Kuntz (155.5)
Justin Scoggins (126) vs. Josh Sampo (126)