UFC 178 weigh-in: Conor McGregor creates another scene

By Case Keefer (contact)

Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 | 7 p.m.

The UFC only goes to the two fighters in a card’s main event for a final comment after the weigh-in.

Ahead of Saturday night’s UFC 178 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, that was flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Chris Cariaso. Budding featherweight superstar Conor McGregor, who fights Dustin Poirier on the main card, was left out.

That doesn’t mean the brash Irishman wasn’t heard from Friday evening. As if McGregor hadn’t spent the past few months trash-talking Poirier enough, his fans turned out en masse to transform the MGM Grand Conference Center’s Premier Ballroom into Little Ireland.

Irish flags waved, chants rangs out and unruly fans tried to rush over the barricade as McGregor came out from behind the curtain to hit the scale. Glee changed to aversion as Poirier entered, flexing and screaming to a tinnitus-inducing chorus of boos.

Poirier, who came in at 145 pounds, rushed at McGregor (146) after making weight but both fighters were held back by UFC President Dana White before they could get near each other. Much to the delight of the mob, the two yelled and pointed at each other as White pushed them in opposite directions.

Fans start cycling out of the room before fighters from the final two bouts after Poirier vs. McGregor even appeared. They didn’t miss much, as all the headliners joined the rest of the card in making weight and staring down without incident.

All 11 fights at UFC 178 are official. The rest may not have the anticipation level of McGregor’s first major test, but a few other fighters got ovations that would have sounded raucous under normal circumstances.

Comebacks from Dominick Cruz (134) and Cat Zingano (135) got the biggest reactions aside from McGregor.

Cruz had to vacate his bantamweight championship after injuries kept him from fighting for the last three years. He briefly smiled and acknowledged the crowd before a friendly staredown with opponent Takeya Mizugaki (136).

Zingano, on the contrary, was all business. She scowled from the moment she emerged, getting right in opponent Amanda Nunes’ (135) face before White had to step in.

Zingao was the top contender for Ronda Rousey’s UFC championship belt a year and a half ago, but never got the opportunity to fight because she tore her ACL and then dealt with tragedy. Her husband and coach, Mauricio Zingano, committed suicide.

The co-main event between newcomer Eddie Alvarez (155) and fan-favorite Donald Cerrone (155) got some recognition, before most of the crowd’s focus shifted to catching McGregor make his way to the Fox Sports 1 set.

Not many heard the final salute from the fighters in the main event.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” Cariaso said. “I’m ready to go out there, give it 100 percent and take this title from Demetrious.”

“It’s another great challenge,” Johnson said. “But I’m ready every time I fight.”

Check below for full results from the UFC 178 weigh-in.

Flyweight championship bout: Demetrious Johnson (124.5) vs. Chris Cariaso (124.5)

Lightweight bout: Donald Cerrone (155) vs. Eddie Alvarez (155)

Featherweight bout: Dustin Poirier (145) vs. Conor McGregor (146)

Middleweight bout: Tim Kennedy (185) vs. Yoel Romero (185)

Women’s bantamweight bout: Cat Zingano (135) vs. Amanda Nunes (135)

Bantamweight bout: Dominick Cruz (134) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (136)

Lightweight bout: Jorge Masvidal (155) vs. James Krause (155)

Welterweight bout: Patrick Cote (170.5) vs. Stephen Thompson (170)

Welterweight bout: John Howard (170) vs. Brian Ebersole (170)

Lightweight bout: Jon Tuck (155) vs. Kevin Lee (155.5)

Bantamweight bout: Manvel Gamburyan (135.5) vs. Cody Gibson (135.5)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.