So much for pre-fight posturing and trash-talk. Following this past week’s announcement that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has banned exemptions for testosterone-replacement therapy – and following Vitor Belfort’s subsequent withdrawal from a UFC 173 title fight – his originally scheduled opponent, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman , caught up with his new foe: replacement and former champ Lyoto Machida . The UFC 173 headliners crossed paths at the Arnold Sports Festival, a four-day sports, fitness and nutrition expo in Columbus. (Coincidentally, Zuffa used to hold a UFC, WEC or Strikeforce show at Ohio’s Nationwide Arena each year in conjunction with the festival, but skipped 2013 and this year.) Machida posted the above photo to show their friendly meeting. Weidman (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), a nearly 2-1 favorite, meets Machida (21-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) May 24 on pay-per-view from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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Ahead of UFC 173, new opponents Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida meet up – MMA Junkie