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SALT LAKE CITY — Provo-based mixed martial artist Court McGee received a massive ovation when he was introduced Friday at Vivint Arena during the weigh-in for UFC Fight Night in Salt Lake City.
But headliner Yair “El Pantera” Rodriguez came pretty close as well.
The UFC unveiled its top matchups for Saturday afternoon’s bouts during Friday’s weigh-ins, and there were plenty of storylines. While the lower bowl cheered wildly for McGee, a large section of supporters waving a giant Mexican flag were also on hand in a corner dominated by Rodriguez’s fans.
Rodriguez, ranked No. 13 in the organization, will face featherweight challenger Alex Caceres in a fight that could set up a possible championship contender. The 8-1 native of Mexico is favored over Caceres but just barely.
Meanwhile, McGee will face rising star Dominique Steele in a welterweight preliminary fight pitting the Layton High graduate against his American opponent.
Even so, the two gave the traditional face-off in Utah’s first-ever UFC fight then promptly hugged it out in a show of good luck wishes. No hard feelings, right?
The best moments from weigh-in for UFC Fight Night in Salt Lake City on Saturday. #UFCSLCpic.twitter.com/tMNk5r7KIy
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) August 6, 2016
There may have been a few hard feelings for fellow prelim fighters David Teymure and Jason Novelli. The two started some jawing at each other and had to be separated after their weigh-in, which escalated from the traditional prefight stare down into a small war of words between the two one-loss fighters.
Brazil’s Rony Jason also brought out his traditional mask made famous by his namesake from the “Friday the 13th” franchise. Marina “Irony Lady” Moroz stared down from her 7-inch height advantage at challenge Danielle “Dynamite” Taylor in the marquee women’s fight of the weekend.
