UFC 156 weigh-in: Alistair Overeem, Antonio Silva separated from the start

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 | 6:30 p.m.

Dana White shared what was said during the first staredown between Alistair Overeem and Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva.

The UFC president had to jump in between the two hulking heavyweights at a press conference Thursday, but only after they exchanged some choice words.

“You better start respecting me,” Silva told Overeem.

“I’m going to (expletive) destroy you,” Overeem responded.

The two former Strikeforce standouts, who have been at odds since their fight was first announced, didn’t have a chance to make as much of a scene at the UFC 156 weigh-in Friday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

White immediately stuck his arms in between Overeem (264) and Silva (263) as soon as they stepped off the scale and squared up to pose for their fight photo.

Overeem, who’s coming off a yearlong suspension after testing positive for elevated testosterone levels, was mostly booed as he walked onstage. He took off his hoodie to reveal a T-shirt with a perfect message for the occasion.

“Haters gonna hate,” the shirt read.

Overeem wasn’t the only fighter scheduled for Saturday night’s card who received a negative reaction and engaged in an intense staredown. Overeem’s teammate from the “Blackzilians” in South Florida, Rashad Evans, followed the same pattern moments later.

Evans (206) walked out to boos before getting an inch away from the face of Antonio Rogerio “Lil Nog” Nogueira (206). White had to push them apart and the two light heavyweights passed on an opportunity for a handshake.

The disagreements between main-event featherweights Jose Aldo (145) and Frankie Edgar (144) are more light-hearted in nature.

Their most significant point of dissension was on the subject of speed. Aldo says Edgar, who is fighting in the 145-pound division for the first time, won’t be able to keep up with him. Edgar claims he’ll be quicker than ever.

Both looked awfully fast at the weigh-in. Edgar sprinted from behind the curtain backstage and onto the scale. Not one to be outdone, Aldo followed course and sped through the weigh-in process.

He took a couple of swigs of Pedialyte to rehydrate and then posed with Edgar.

“He’s a great fighter, but I’m going to send him back to his weight class,” Aldo said through a translator for his final comments before the fight.

White and his staff must have felt relieved with all the main-card fighters coming in on point because the weigh-in got off to an ominous start. The first three fighters to step on the scale — bantamweights Dustin Kimura, Edwin Figueroa and Francisco Rivera — all missed weight.

After coming in 3.5 pounds over the limit at 139.5, Kimura will forfeit 20 percent of his purse to opponent Chico Camus (134). Figueroa and Rivera both came in heavy on first attempt, but got down to an acceptable 136 and 135.5, respectively, on a second attempt within an hour.

“I know he’s been a great champion for a while,” Edgar said of Aldo while he walked off the stage. “I feel better than ever at 145. Nothing you want bad enough is going to be given to you, so I’m ready to take it tomorrow.”

Check below for full results from the UFC 156 weigh-in.

Featherweight championship bout: Jose Aldo (145) vs. Frankie Edgar (144)

Light heavyweight bout: Rashad Evans (206) vs. Antonio Rogerio “Lil Nog” Nogueira (206)

Heavyweight bout: Alistair Overeem (264) vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva (262)

Welterweight bout: Jon Fitch (171) vs. Demian Maia (170)

Flyweight bout: Joseph Benavidez (126) vs. Ian McCall (125)

Lightweight bout: Gleison Tibau (155) vs. Evan Dunham (155)

Welterweight bout: Tyron Woodley (170) vs. Jay Hieron (168)

Lightweight bout: Jacob Volkmann (156) vs. Bobby Green (155)

Lightweight bout: Yves Edwards (155) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (156)

Bantamweight bout: Chico Camus (134) vs. Dustin Kimura (139.5)

Bantamweight bout: Edwin Figueroa (135.5) vs. Francisco Rivera (136)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or case.keefer@lasvegassun.com. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.