The seven great ones by @graciemag

Following GSP‘s and Aldo’s departure to weigh in, the five remaining champions pose for photos and horse around with the crowd. Photo: Marcelo Dunlop.

The seven champions attending the show figured on the official program for UFC 129 as far back as the 18th of April, but it was hard for someone who’s covered MMA since the days it was called vale-tudo to believe everyone would make it. There’s none of that with Dana White’s UFC, though – if it’s been scheduled to happen it happens.

The Ricoh Centre, (which once hosted horse fairs and is now the arena for the Toronto Marlies hockey team) made history. At 5:23 pm local time the seven sat side by side, to the delight of the fans overrunning the stands, at an event that was free to attend and impeccably organized.

Joe Rogan assumed the microphone and led the festivities. Dominick Cruz (bantamweight), José Aldo (featherweight), Frankie Edgar (lightweight), GSP (welterweight), Anderson Silva (middleweight), Jon Jones (light heavyweight) and Cain Velasquez (heavyweight) were received with a deafening roar. A sign of good things to come for the stadium.

Also incredible is realizing the versatility possessed by the seven champions, with their crisp-punching hands and slick ground games. Toronto’s UFC truly is the start of a new era, or at least it seemed that way today, with the seven monsters assembled in their tuxedos.

GSP: “Shields is a champion too, the belt isn’t mine until Saturday” By @graciemag

Georges Saint-Pierre left his belt in the middle of the octagon, so to speak, and now it’s up for grabs. At the press conference with the seven champions GSP exalted Shields’s class.

“He’s held titles in five events, in more than one division – that’s something I never managed to do. I want to be the guy to stop Jake, who is a great champion too. The belt is no longer mine, it is in the middle of the ring, and the winner of the fight on Saturday will own it,” declared GSP, before making his exit to get ready for weigh-ins, alongside a José Aldo whose face betrayed his hunger.

Fluzão 3 X 1 Libertad-PAR

UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields Full Weigh-In Results

The weigh-ins for UFC 129 went down in Toronto today with both main event fighters Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields making the 170lb limit, thus making their UFC welterweight title fight official.

Shields stated after stepping off the scales, “Georges St-Pierre’s a great fighter, but I’m bringing the belt home with me.  People can boo all they want but it’s me and Georges in the cage and it’s going to be an all out war, one I’m going to make you remember.”

St-Pierre stated, “It’s going to go down with a victory.  That’s what I promise.  Don’t blink tomorrow.  Don’t blink.”

FULL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR UFC 129:
MAIN EVENT:
Jake Shields (169) vs. Georges St-Pierre (169.5)*

CO-MAIN EVENT:
Mark Hominck (145) vs. Jose Aldo (145)*

PAY-PER-VIEW MAIN CARD:
Randy Couture (203.5) vs. Lyoto Machida (204.5)
Vladdy Matyushenko (205.5) vs. Jason Brilz (204.5)
Ben Henderson (156.5) vs. Mark Bocek (155)

SPIKE TV PRELIMS:
Nate Diaz (171) vs. Rory MacDonald (170.5)
Jake Ellenberger (170) vs. Sean Pierson (170)

FACEBOOK PRELIMS:
Daniel Roberts (170.5) vs. Claude Patrick (169.5)
Ivan Menjivar (136) vs. Charlie Valencia (135.5)
Jason MacDonald (185) vs. Ryan Jensen (185)
John Makdessi (155.5) vs. Kyle Watson (155)
Yves Jabouin (146) vs. Pablo Garza (145)

*Title fights must come in on weight, no one pound allowance

UFC 129: St-Pierre vs Shields Weigh-In Video

UFC 129 is now official with all four title fighters coming in on weight including main eventers Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields.

Check out the weigh in video which also includes the final time on the scales for UFC legend Randy Couture as he faces Lyoto Machida.