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UFC 184 weigh-in: Rousey-mania infects Los Angeles

Fans pack in L.A. Live for a glimpse at the champion while everyone makes weight

UFC 170 Weigh In

Las Vegas Sun

Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey waves to fans during the weigh in for UFC 170 Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in this file photo.

Several fighters were around to mingle with fans as they waited for the UFC 184 weigh-in Friday afternoon at The Event Deck at L.A. Live.

One of the longest lines for pictures and autographs, however, wasn’t for a pre-arranged meet and greet. Women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey’s mother, AnnMaria De Mars, was swarmed with requests in yet another testament to the UFC 184 headliner’s ever-increasing popularity.

De Mars, herself a former world champion in judo, posed and conversed for an hour until taking a front-row seat to watch her daughter tip the scales. She became just as surrounded again when Rousey (135) made weight after challenger Cat Zingano (134.5) in front of a flock of fans rushing up with their cameras out.

“This is definitely the biggest challenge I’ve ever had,” Rousey said on the stage. “I’m very thankful to have an opponent like Cat because I’m going to show you guys the most fantastic win you’ve ever seen from me.”

Rousey extended her arm to Zingano for a handshake after they made the fifth women’s bantamweight championship bout in UFC history official, and then the two crept within inches of each other’s faces for a tense staredown. The crowd never tamed their reaction.

There was a fear that UFC 184 wouldn’t have the same anticipation after announced headliner Chris Weidman went down with an injury to scratch a middleweight championship defense against Vitor Belfort. But the few-thousand fans that packed The Event Deck sounded starved for the first pay-per-view at the Staples Center since UFC 104 more than five years ago.

The main card begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow after a preliminary card broadcast on Fox Sports 1 at 5.

Zingano also seemed to feed off the energy at the weigh-in, playfully keeping her comments on the fight to two words.

“Watch this,” Zingano said.

All 22 fighters on the card made weight, though not on first attempt. Middleweight Mark Munoz, who owns a gym in nearby Orange County, got the second biggest reaction aside from Rousey but immediately called for a towel to completely strip down in an attempt to hit the 186-pound limit.

Already looking emaciated, Munoz registered 187.5 before shedding the extra pound and a half an hour later. Welterweight Jake Ellenberger, who’s trained with both Munoz and Rousey in the past, had the other close call.

He came in a half-pound too heavy before employing the towel and hitting his mark. Ellenberger (171) and Josh Koscheck (170.5) face off in the final men’s fight tomorrow.

For the first time in UFC history, females fill both the main and co-main event. Former boxing champion and UFC newcomer Holly Holm (135.5) meets Raquel Pennington (135.5) to warm the octagon for Rousey and Zingano.

“She’s a great fighter but I’m the greatest fighter in the world,” Rousey said of Zingano in a video shown at the event.

Check below for full results from the UFC 184 weigh-in.

Women’s bantamweight champion: Ronda Rousey (135) vs. Cat Zingano (134.5)

Women’s bantamweight bout: Raquel Pennington (135.5) vs. Holly Holm (135.5)

Welterweight bout: Jake Ellenberger (171) vs. Josh Koscheck (170.5)

Welterweight bout: Alan Jouban (170.5) vs. Richard Walsh (171)

Lightweight bout: Tony Ferguson (156) vs. Gleison Tibau (155)

Middleweight bout: Mark Munoz (187.25) vs. Roan Carneiro (184.5)

Bantamweight bout: Roman Salazar (135) vs. Norifumi Yamamoto (136)

Welterweight bout: Dhiego Lima (170) vs. Tim Means (170)

Heavyweight bout: Derrick Lewis (263) vs. Ruan Potts (253)

Lightweight bout: James Krause (155) vs. Valmir Lazaro (155.5)

Featherweight bout: Masio Fullen (145) vs. Alexander Torres (145.5)

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

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