Weigh-in blog: All fighters make weight for UFC 123

By Brett Okamoto

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010 | 2:25 p.m.

DETROIT — Making weight was apparently no problem for all 22 fighters set to compete on Saturday’s UFC 123 event, as not a single one of them took advantage of the extra pound given to each division.

A fighter is allowed to weigh in 1 pound over his or her weight limit. Doing so is fairly common practice in mixed martial arts.

But during Friday’s official weigh-in at the Palace at Auburn Hills, all 22 combatants came in right at the weight of his division.

They may have been aided by a slightly off scale. Former welterweight champion Matt Hughes turned to president Dana White before getting on the scale and audibly predicted he’d weight 171 — only to come in at 169.

Nevertheless, the results of the weigh-in signal the final formality before Saturday’s night of action.

Main event fighters Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida both weighed in at 205 pounds. The two were separated by White during the staredown, when Machida’s fists came too close to Jackson’s face for the president’s liking.

Although fighters getting separated usually symbolizes some kind of bad blood, the two light heavyweights shook hands following the staredown and Jackson even left the stage speaking to Machida’s interpreter, Ed Soares.

“Lyoto is a great guy,” Jackson said. “I come to excite the crowd. I’m here for y’all. I’ll show the love I have for y’all tomorrow.”

Although it was surprising that Hughes weighed in at 169 pounds, it wasn’t shocking to see his opponent, B.J. Penn, tip the scales at the exact same weight.

Penn, who has won titles at both 155 pounds and 170 pounds, will be fighting as a welterweight for the first time since January 2009.

Full Results:

Tyson Griffin (155) vs. Nik Lentz (155)

Paul Kelly (155) vs. T.J. O’Brien (155)

Mike Lullo (155) vs. Edson Barboza (155)

Dennis Hallman (170) vs. Karo Parisyan (170)

Mark Munoz (185) vs. Aaron Simpson (185.5)

Brian Foster (170) vs Matt Brown (170)

Gerald Harris (185) vs Maiquel Falcao (185)

Joe Lauzon (155) and George Sotiropoulos (155)

Tim Boetsch (205) vs. Phil Davis (205)

Matt Hughes (169) vs. BJ Penn (169)

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (205)

Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com. Follow him on Twitter at LVSunFighting