Canadian welterweight Rory MacDonald (right) talks to coach Firas Zahabi at a public workout in Seattle, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. MacDonald faces American Jake (The Juggernaut) Ellenberger on a televised UFC card Saturday.Neil Davidson/The Canadian Press
Canadian welterweight Rory (Ares) MacDonald was greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers as he weighed in Friday in for his UFC bout against Jake (The Juggernaut) Ellenberger.
The 24-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., who trains out of Montreal, didn't get much of a reception from Ellenberger either. The 28-year-old American, who had drawn cheers and a few chants of U.S.A., stood with his hands on his hips as MacDonald struck up a fighting pose in front of him on the stage at KeyArena.
But UFC president Dana White applauded both men, anticipating what is expected to be a key fight among 170-pound contenders.
Ellenberger weighed in at 171 pounds to 170.5 for MacDonald.
Flyweight champion Demetrious (Mighty Mouse) Johnson and challenger John Moraga both weighed in at 124.5 pounds. They meet in Saturday's televised main event.
There were no fireworks at the weigh-in although lightweight Tim (Dirty Bird) Means tipped the scales at 160 pounds, missing by four pounds, for his bout against Danny Castillo. In his defence, the six-foot-two Means only took the fight on July 11 after Castillo's original opponent, Bobby Green, was injured.
Castillo came out in a black-tuxedo-and-lime-green shirt, which he ripped away prior to standing on the scales.
Bantamweight John Albert (137 pounds) and lightweight Jorge Masvidal (157.5) also weighed over but were given two hours to lose one and 1.5 pounds, respectively.
Albert faces Yaotzin Meza while Masvidal takes on Michael Chiesa.
The Masvidal-Chiesa staredown was tense — doubtless the result of some intemperate words from Masvidal in the run-up to the card.
Bantamweights Jessica Andrade (134) and Liz Carmouche (136) both made weight for their bout, the first in the UFC between openly lesbian fighters.
The card features another women's matchup between bantamweights Germaine de Randamie (135) and Julie Kedzie (135.5).
Veteran lightweight Yves Edwards munched on a Twinkie as he took the scales for his bout against Daron Cruickshank.