The UFC’s first main event back in its hometown is now official.
Former welterweight champion Tyron Woodley and Gilbert Burns made weight Friday morning at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Woodley and Burns each weighed in at 170.5 pounds.
The UFC Fight Night card will take place Saturday night at the Apex, a facility across the street from the UFC’s campus. No fans will be in attendance. Coronavirus protocols, including testing and the requirement of masks, are being overseen by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It is the first combat sports event in the state since March.
The co-main event fighters also made weight Friday morning. Blagoy Ivanov weighed in at 255.5 pounds and Augusto Sakai hit the scale at 259.5 for their heavyweight fight.
Coming in, ESPN has Woodley ranked No. 5 among MMA welterweight fighters and Burns at No. 9.
Woodley (19-4-1) has not fought since dropping the welterweight title to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 on March 2, 2019. The Ferguson, Missouri, native was unbeaten in seven straight fights prior to that with three successful title defenses. Woodley, 38, owns wins over the likes of Darren Till, Stephen Thompson and Robbie Lawler.
Burns (18-3) has won five straight, most recently stopping Demian Maia by first-round TKO in March. The Brazil native, who lives and trains in Florida, is a former two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion. Burns, 33, is 3-0 since moving up from lightweight to welterweight.
Brok Weaver missed weight by 1½ pounds, coming in at 157.5 pounds for a scheduled lightweight bout against Roosevelt Roberts (156 pounds). The bout will go on, with Weaver being fined 20% of his purse due to the weight miss.