in the first bout of the night, also known as the only fight on the card that doesn't feature at least one Brazilian.
When Loveland and Jabouin stepped on the scales, the crowd at the HSBC Arena could hardly be bothered to pay attention, which, in a way, let both fighters off the hook. The other foreigners on the card weren't so lucky.
"It's like Brazil vs. Argentina in Macarana Stadium," he said, putting it in soccer terms any Brazilian would understand. As he added later, "A lot of idols come and go, but we're fighting to reach our place."
The Brazilians on the card certainly had the fans at the weigh-ins firmly behind them, even if the loudest boos were saved for Chael Sonnen, who only appeared via the giant video screen during one of the pre-fight promo packages.
The most half-hearted boos? Those were aimed at Bulgarian Stanislov Nedkov and Englishman Ross Pearson, who are slated to take on Brazilians Luiz Cane and Edson Barboza, respectively.
But even then, it felt more like a perfunctory habit than anything else. Pearson very nearly managed to turn the crowd around by stepping off the scale and rehydrating with help from a coconut and a straw. At least to some degree, it worked. The boos died down, and the crowd lost the urge to inform him of his impending death.
Well played, Mr. Pearson. It might take slightly more to bring about a change of heart toward Sonnen, however.
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Anderson Silva (184 lbs.) talks to Mike Goldberg at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yushin Okami says he will beat Anderson Silva during the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Anderson Silva (184 lbs.) vs. Yushin Okami (183 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Anderson Silva (184 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Anderson Silva (184 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Anderson Silva (184 lbs.) makes his way down for the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yushin Okami (183 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Forrest Griffin (205 lbs.) vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (205 lbs.)
at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (205 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Forrest Griffin (205 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (243 lbs.) vs. Brendan Schaub (247 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (243 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Brendan Schaub (247 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Luiz Cane (204 lbs.) vs. Stanislav Nedkov (203 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Luiz Cane (204 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Stanislav Nedkov (203 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Ross Pearson (155 lbs.) vs. Edson Barboza (155 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Ross Pearson (155 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Edson Barboza (155 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Edson Barboza (155 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Thiago Tavares (156 lbs.) vs. Spencer Fisher (156 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Thiago Tavares (156 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Spencer Fisher (156 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Rousimar Palhares (185) vs. Dan Miller (184) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Rousimar Palhares (185) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Dan Miller (184) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Paulo Thiago (169 lbs.) vs. David Mitchell (171 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
Paulo Thiago (169 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Raphael Assuncao (134 lbs.) vs. Johnny Eduardo (135 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Raphael Assuncao (134 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Johnny Eduardo (135 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Erick Silva (169 lbs.) vs. Luis Ramos (171 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Erick Silva (169 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Luis Ramos (171 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yuri Alcantara (144 lbs.) vs. Felipe Arantes (145 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yuri Alcantara (144 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Felipe Arantes (145 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yves Jabouin (135 lbs.) vs. Ian Loveland (135 lbs.) at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Yves Jabouin (135 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Ian Loveland (135 lbs.) makes weight at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
UFC president Dana White acknowledges the crowd at the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
UFC 134 Weigh-In Photos
Arianny Celeste on stage for the UFC 134 Weigh-Ins on Friday, Aug. 26, 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting