Well that was interesting.
There are just 24 hours to go until the Octagon doors open for business in London once more and, if the weigh-ins are anything to go by, we’re in for fireworks.
All fighters but one weighed in on point ahead of UFC London at the early weigh-ins on Friday morning, which were over in an impressive 31 minutes and resulted in very little action at the fighter hotel.
That's a wrap from the #UFCLondon early weigh-ins https://t.co/35uZPThC9i
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 17, 2017
The same can’t be said, though, for the ceremonial weigh-ins, which took place at the O2 Arena eight hours later.
There was an interesting mixture of intensity, aggression and fun on show which kept the UFC’s security team on their toes throughout.
The first threat of tensions boiling over came in the weigh-in for the all-British showdown between Scott Askham and Brad Scott. Askham got a more favourable response from the Yorkshire-heavy crowd and Scott decided to give the boo-boys the V which wasn’t appreciated by his opponent.
Let's shake hands .. NOW HEAD-TO-HEAD! @BradleyScott89 takes on @ScottAskham1 in MW action #UFCLondon on @UFCFightPass! pic.twitter.com/uJZf4HLh0i
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
Next up was something similar as the undefeated Marc Diakiese proved he wasn’t present to make any friends as he slapped away the olive branch offer from Teemu Packalen.
😳 @Marc_Diakiese vs @PackalenTeemu #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/qJdNStBD1S
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
Then some banter arrived in the form of the big men.
As Daniel Omielanczuk and Tim Johnson squared up to one another, they engaged in a little pre-organised dance which had matchmaker Sean Shelby sweating for a moment.
The heavyweights! @OmielanczukD vs @TBearTim #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/0q52OXU6a9
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
It was back to raw anger seconds later as two familiar faces clashed on stage.
Darren Stewart’s meeting with Francimar Barroso was eventually ruled a No Contest due to an accidental clash of heads last November.
There was nothing accidental about the head-to-head that took place in London however, as the Brazilian light heavyweight was almost forced off the stage.
The rematch! @Darren_MMA takes on @Bodao_Oficial .. again! #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/FAMLlFoRgF
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
Whatever conversation Omielanczuk and Johnson had had prior to the weigh-ins, Makwan Amirkhani and Arnold Allen must have been involved in too as they pulled off something similar, embracing after initially threatening to jump down one another’s throat.
WHEW! We almost had another stare down show down! 😂 😂 😂 @ArnoldBFA vs @MakwanAmirkhani #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/OVLHL9c3LZ
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
There was nothing of the sort from the UFC London headliners though as Jimi Manuwa and Corey Anderson simply stared into each other’s soul before going their separate ways ahead of their crucial 205lbs clash on Saturday night.
These two go at it tomorrow! @PosterboyJM vs @CoreyA_MMA | LIVE STREAMING only on @UFCFightPass! #UFCLondon pic.twitter.com/iPNG26wxeL
— UFC (@ufc) March 17, 2017
