A confident Max Holloway hit the exact weight of 145 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in to make official tonight’s UFC featherweight unification title fight against Jose Aldo in the main event of UFC 212.
Greeted by a chorus of boos from the pro-Aldo hometown crowd in Rio de Janeiro, Holloway (17-3, 13-3 UFC) went face-to-face against the longtime 145-pound division kingpin for the final time. The next time they get that close, it will be in the center of the Octagon.
“I told you guys a star was born in December,” Holloway said. “We’re going to twinkle bright on Saturday.”
HOLLOWAY VS. ALDO
>> When: Today, 4 p.m. Hawaii time, Rio de Janeiro
>> TV: Pay-per-view
Holloway is the UFC interim champion at 145 pounds after beating Anthony Pettis six months ago to win his 10th consecutive fight. Tonight’s fight will mark the eighth time the UFC has held a unification title fight, with the interim champion holding a 4-3 advantage.
Aldo (26-2, 8-1) has won 16 of his last 17 fights at 145 pounds, with the only loss coming against Conor McGregor. He followed that 13-second KO loss with a win over Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 last July.
“You can be sure of one thing. Victory is ours,” Aldo said to a roar of approval from the fans in attendance after also hitting the 145-pound weight limit exactly. “You can be sure of that.”
The 12-fight card will include five live fights on pay-per-view beginning at 4 p.m.
Makaha’s Yancy Medeiros (13-4, 4-4) will open the broadcast in a welterweight fight against Erick Silva (19-7, 7-6). Medeiros, who has alternated wins and losses in his last five fights, has won three performance of the night bonuses and one fight of the night bonus in his eight bouts with the company.
Both fighters weighed in at 171 pounds, using the extra pound allowed for non-title fights.
