Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger both successfully made weight for their UFC on FUEL main event, along with 18 other fighters, making the Wednesday night show official.
The winner could earn a chance to fight interim champion Carlos Condit, though that possibility has so far gone unconfirmed by UFC officials.
Ellenberger, who grew up just a few miles from the Omaha (Nebraska) Civic Auditorium and attended both high school and college locally, checked in first at 170, and Sanchez followed at the same weight.
“It’s definitely exciting to come back here and be near friends and family,” Ellenberger said. “I’m extremely excited to get back in there. I’m focused and looking to finish him.”
Sanchez didn’t seem phased by the hometown reaction.
“You know what? When they lock the doors, it’s just me and him in there, and that’s all that matters,” he said.
In the co-main event matchup, Stefan Struve will have a major size advantage on opponent Dave Herman. The 6-foot-11 Struve weighed in at 256, while the eccentric Herman — wearing a pink scarf and a black ski hat to go with a dark, bushy beard, came in at 234.
Main Card
Jake Ellenberger (170) vs. Diego Sanchez (170)
Dave Herman (234) vs. Stefan Struve (256)
Ronny Markes (185) vs. Aaron Simpson (186)
Philip De Fries (241) vs. Stipe Miocic (240)
T.J. Dillashaw (136) vs. Walel Watson (135)
John Albert (135) vs. Ivan Menjivar (135)
Preliminary Card
Jonathan Brookins (145) vs. Vagner Rocha (145)
Sean Loeffler (185) vs. Buddy Roberts (184)
Anton Kuivanen (156) vs. Justin Salas (155)
Bernardo Magalhaes (155) vs. Tim Means (155)