While the balance of the UFC’s lightweight division will be reshaped by late Saturday night, the two guys doing the reshaping — Benson Henderson and Josh Thomson — both made weight for their UFC on FOX 10 bout.
Thomson, who is the No. 1 contender right now, tipped the scales at 155 pounds, while Henderson had to bring out the towel to hit the maximum 156-pound mark. The two will square off at Chicago’s United Center in a fight with at least vague title implications. Should Thomson win, he keeps his No. 1 contender status to fight Anthony Pettis, who was looming over the proceedings as a member of the FOX Sports 1 coverage team. Pettis is currently out of action with a knee injury, and hoping to return in the summer.
If Henderson wins, things get a little more complicated. As Pettis has already defeated Henderson twice — once at WEC 53, and then again at UFC 164 — it’s doubtful he’d get thrust back into a title fight anytime soon. However, with the UFC working to re-sign Gilbert Melendez, and Khabib Nurmagomedov still waiting for an opponent, there will be no shortage of Plan B’s.
All the other fighters on the UFC on FOX 10 card made weight as well.
Gabriel Gonzaga, who has won back-to-back fights and is 4-2 in his return to the UFC, weighed in at 258 pounds. He’ll face Ohio’s Stipe Miocic in the co-main event. Miocic came in at 245 pounds.
Anthony Pettis’ younger brother, Sergio Pettis, weighed in at 135 pounds for his fight with Alex Cacares (135). Though Pettis is the hyped fighter in the match-up, “Bruce Leeroy” has won four of his last six bouts (and would have won five, if he hadn’t tested positive for marijuana for his fight with Kyung Ho Kang).
Main Card (FOX, 8 p.m. EST)
Josh Thomson (155) vs. Benson Henderson (156)
Gabriel Gonzaga (258) vs. Stipe Miocic (245)
Adriano Martins (155) vs. Donald Cerrone (155)
Jeremy Stephens (146) vs. Darren Elkins (145)
Fox Sports 1 prelims (5 p.m. EST)
Sergio Pettis (135) vs. Alex Cacares (135)
Yves Jabouin (135) vs. Eddie Wineland (135)
Yaotzin Meza (135) vs. Chico Camus (135)
Hugo Viana (136) vs. Junior Hernandez (136)
Mike Rio (155) vs. Daron Cruickshank (155)
Mike Rhodes (171) vs. George Sullivan (170)
UFC Fight Pass prelims (4:30 p.m. EST)
Nikita Krylov (218) vs. Walt Harris (241)