Returning former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was all smiles during weigh-ins Friday — until it was announced he’d made it inside the division’s title limit before his Saturday UFC 197 main event interim title contest against Ovince Saint Preux. Then he flexed, looked up the sky and roared, bringing the Las Vegas arena crowd along with him.
Afterwards, he was once again giddy, telling commentator Mike Goldberg: “This feels absolutely unbelievable. I have way too much energy.”
Jones went on to say that, after more than a year of personal and legal battles that kept him from competing inside the Octagon, he “missed this so much,” and vowed to give fans “the best performance ever tomorrow night.”
For his part, title-contender OSP sounded calm after also making weight and promised that he’d make good on this short-notice fight. “I’m telling you,” he began, “I’m going to make the best of this opportunity.”
In the co-main event, full flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and his challenger Henry Cejudo both weighed-in at 125 pounds, making their contest official. “I’m going to go out there and do my thing,” the champ said afterward.
Olympic wrestling gold-medalist Cejudo said that basics will get him the upset victory. “Simplicity is going to win this fight,” he predicted.
Read on below for the full weigh-in results for Saturday’s UFC 197: Jones vs Saint Preux event!
MAIN CARD
Jon Jones (205) vs. Ovince Saint Preux (205)
Demetrious Johnson (125) vs. Henry Cejudo (125)
Anthony Pettis (156) vs. Edson Barboza (155)
Robert Whittaker (185.5) vs. Rafael Natal (186)
Yair Rodriguez (145.5) vs. Andre Fili (146)
UFC 197 FS1 Prelims
Sergio Pettis (126) vs. Chris Kelades (126)
Danny Roberts (170.5) vs. Dominique Steele (171)
Carla Esparza (116) vs. Julianna Lima (115)
Glaico Franca (156) vs. James Vick (155)
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
Walt Harris (255.5) vs. Cody East (245.5)
Marcos Rogerio de Lima (205) vs. Clint Hester (205)
Efrain Escudero (155.5) vs. Kevin Lee (156)