Adesanya taunts Romero with a Cuban cigar. Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc
Israel adesanya defends the middleweight belt (up to 83.9 kg.), this Saturday (07), in the main fight of the UFC 248 against Yoel romero. But before entering the octagon, the champion took advantage of the last opportunity to provoke his rival.
At the show's ceremonial weigh-in, held on Friday night (06), he went on stage with a Cuban cigar, put it in his mouth, pretended to light it and then threw it on the floor and stepped on it (see the video below). The provocation makes reference to the famous cigarette from Cuba, the country where the challenger was born.
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The first to step on the scale was Yoel romero. After the scare at the official weigh-in, the challenger walked to the peaceful stage and greeted those present. When his weight was announced, he raised his arms and asked for applause from the audience. Next came Adesanya. The champion provoked his rival with the cigar and walked towards the face. The fighters stared at each other from a distance for a few seconds until the Nigerian took a step forward, followed by the Cuban. They stayed eye to eye until the UFC president separated them. Already at a very long distance, the athletes continued to face each other to the delight of the public.
Video: Adesanya taunts Romero with a Cuban cigar during UFC 248 weigh-ins
UFC 248 weigh-in results
MAIN CARD (0pm, Brasília time):
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Israel adesanya (83,6kg.) x Yoel romero (83,9kg.) – Fight for the belt
Straw weight (up to 52,1kg): Weili Zhang (52,1kg.) x Joanna Jedrzejczyk (52,1kg.) – Fight for the belt
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Beneil Dariush (70,7kg.) x Drakkar Klose (70,7kg.)
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Neil Magny (77,5kg.) x li jingliang (77,5kg.)
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Alex Cowboy (77,5kg.) x Max griffin (77,3kg.)
PRELIMINARY CARD (20:30 p.m., Brasília time):
Bantamweight (up to 61,2kg.): Sean O'Malley (61,4kg.) x José Quiñonez (61,4kg.)
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Mark madsen (70,7kg.) x Austin Hubbard (70kg.)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Rudolph Vieira (84,3kg.) x Saparbek Safarov (84,3kg.)
Average weight (up to 83,9kg): Gerald meerschaert (83,9kg.) x Deron Winn (84,1kg.)
Straw weight (up to 52,1kg): emily whitmire (53,2kg.) * x Polyana viana (52,6kg.)
Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Giga Chikadze (66,2kg.) x Jamall Emmers (65,9kg.)
Bantam weight (up to 61,2kg): Danaa Batgerel (61,6kg.) x Guido cannetti (61,4kg.)
*Exceeded the limit by approximately 600g.
**In fights not valid for the belt, athletes have a tolerance limit of one pound (0,454g) over the official weight of their respective categories.
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