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B.J. Penn, left, and Nick Diaz bump heads while facing off during the weigh in Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 for UFC 137 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Friday, Oct. 28, 2011 | 6 p.m.
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KSNV coverage of UFC fights Saturday at Mandalay Bay, Oct. 28, 2011.
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No matter how professional or different he appeared for most of the week, it’s still the same ole Nick Diaz.
Diaz acted out in his usual fashion after making weight at the UFC 137 weigh-in, starting a mini-scuffle with main event opponent B.J. Penn. After Penn (169) inched in for a close stare down photo, Diaz (170) rammed his head into the Hawaiian.
When Penn refused to back down, Diaz threw a soft punch towards the two-time champion that missed before UFC President Dana White stepped in.
Diaz exited the stage without giving the customary address to the packed crowd at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. But, interpreting comments earlier in the week, Diaz might be upset with Penn for accepting the fight. Diaz never wanted to face off against Penn because the two were former training partners. Diaz suggested he almost didn’t sign the contract.
“I’m not the one who signed first,” Diaz said. “I look at it like that. I’m not one to fight my friends or people I know. I probably wouldn’t have signed until they let me know it was all a go. They still had to talk me into it.”
Penn, still fired up from the encounter, stayed in place and offered one brief quote.
“He’s a good opponent,” Penn said. “It’s time to fight.”
The drama finished off one of the most eventful UFC weigh-ins in recent memory. Las Vegas heavyweight Roy Nelson picked an interesting way to show he’s lost weight.
Nelson weighed in at 252 pounds — with a fat suit tucked underneath his clothes. Even with the extra weight, it was the smallest Nelson had ever been at a UFC weigh-in.
In other words, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (235) may not be at as much of a size disadvantage as previously expected.
“The Ultimate Fighter” 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem took his “Stripper” nickname a little too far in the eyes of some. Nijem (155), who faces Danny Downes (155), simulated a stripping routine and wore a Chippendales-inspired bowtie to the event.
“That was uncalled for,” remarked UFC commentator Joe Rogan.
Nijem couldn’t have angered the UFC brass as much as Las Vegas-based veteran Tyson Griffin, though. Griffin, a longtime lightweight who was scheduled to make his second appearance at featherweight, weighed in three pounds over the limit at 149 pounds.
Bart Palaszewski (146) still accepted the fight after Griffin could only cut one more pound on his second attempt. Griffin will forfeit 25 percent of his show money for missing weight.
Check below for full results from the UFC 137 weigh-in.
Welterweight Bout: B.J. Penn (169) vs. Nick Diaz (170)
Heavyweight Bout: Cheick Kongo (234) vs. Matt Mitrione (255)
Heavyweight Bout: Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (235) vs. Roy Nelson (252)
Bantamweight Bout: Scott Jorgensen (135) vs. Jeff Curran (134)
Featherweight Bout: Hatsu Hioki (145) vs. George Roop (145)
Lightweight Bout: Dennis Siver (155) vs. Donald Cerrone (156)
Featherweight Bout: Tyson Griffin (149) vs. Bart Palaszewski (146)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Brandon Vera (205) vs. Eliot Marshall (204)
Lightweight Bout: Ramsey Nijem (155) vs. Danny Downes (155)
Middleweight Bout: Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Francis Carmont (185)
Middleweight Bout: Dustin Jacoby (185) vs. Clifford Starks (186)
Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.
Diaz didn't throw a "soft punch." There are slow motion GIFs of the incident already posted on several MMA sites. His right arm crossed over in front of Penn's face as White bulldozed his way in between the fighters.