Aldo, ‘Zombie’ confident at UFC 163 weigh-ins

Both Jose Aldo, left, and Chan Sung, right, are both unbeaten in the UFC. (sportsnet.ca)

UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo and popular challenger Chan Sung Jung, perhaps better known as The Korean Zombie, are set for their UFC 163 main event bout after the official fighter weigh-ins Friday.

Both Aldo and Jung came in at an even 145 pounds and were respectful in front of a lively, pro-Aldo crowd at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is the same venue in which Saturday’s event will take place.

The Korean Zombie, 3-0 in the UFC, is nearly a 6-to-1 underdog and many are counting him out against the champ, who is considered one of the pound-for-pound best in the sport.

“No matter what people might think I am confident in my ability to win,” Jung said through a translator after the weigh-ins.

Jung is coming off a Fight of the Year win over Dustin Poirier, but that occurred in May 2012. He was originally set to fight Ricardo Lamas at UFC 162, but was brought in for this fight with Aldo as an injury replacement for Anthony Pettis.

Aldo is riding a 15-fight win streak and is 12-0 under the Zuffa banner, with eight wins in his WEC/UFC tenure coming by way of stoppage.

The native of Manaus, Brazil knocked out Chad Mendes at UFC 142 the last time he competed in his homeland and is confident heading into UFC 163.

“I feel more confident because the crowd pushes me all the time,” Aldo said through his translator. “I’m looking for the knockout all the time.”

Aldo added that he doesn’t care about what the Korean Zombie is doing or how his opponent has been training because he can’t lose at home.

On the FUEL TV post-weigh-ins show Aldo said he felt Jung’s best attribute is aggression, but that it will work to his advantage.

He also dismissed criticism that he fatigues late in fights, while adding he isn’t sure whether this will be the last time he competes in the 145-pound division.

Aldo has mentioned in the past that he has thought of one day moving up to the lightweight division.

Co-main event competitors Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis both weighed in at 205 pounds for their light-heavyweight bout.

The winner of this fight could potentially be the next title challenger in the division, and if all goes his way Davis will be that man.

“It’s a super big fight for me and a win will put me right where I want to be in the division,” Davis told the FUEL TV post-weigh-ins show.

Davis, an NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion, has said he plans on using what has made him successful. Machida has defeated high-level wrestlers in the past, including Dan Henderson, Ryan Bader and Randy Couture, but Davis said he will be able to give Machida trouble where others haven’t.

“It’s all about how you use your wrestling,” Davis explained. “My style’s entirely different.”

The only fighter to miss weight Friday was Brazilian John Lineker who came in at 129 pounds – three pounds over the allowed limit for non-title flyweight bouts – for his fight against UFC newcomer Jose Maria Tome.

Lineker was given two hours to lose the weight, but he did not cut the additional weight and was fined 20 per cent of his purse.

Here are the complete results from the UFC 163 weigh-ins:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view at 10:00 p.m. ET)

Champ Jose Aldo (145) vs. Chan Sung Jung (145)

Lyoto Machida (205) vs. Phil Davis (205)

Cezar Ferreira (185) vs. Thiago Santos (183)

Thales Leites (185) vs. Tom Watson (185)

John Lineker (129) vs. Jose Maria Tome (126)

PRELIMINARY CARD (Sportsnet 360 at 8:00 p.m. ET)

Vinny Magalhaes (205) vs. Anthony Perosh (205)

Sheila Gaff (135) vs. Amanda Nunes (136)

Neil Magny (171) vs. Sergio Moraes (170)

Ian McCall (125) vs. Iliarde Santos (125)

ONLINE PRELIMS (sportsnet.ca at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Josh Clopton (145) vs. Rani Yahya (145)

Francimar Barroso (204) vs. Ednaldo Oliveira (205)

Viscardi Andrade (170) vs. Bristol Marunde (171)

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