MONTREAL – At Thursday's UFC 83 news conference, welterweight champion Matt Serra tried to put to rest the idea he has hate for the people of Quebec.

"Can I make something clear? I have nothing against the French," the Long Islander said.

The message must not have gotten through. Serra was lustily booed by the 4,000 or so fans in attendance for Friday's UFC 83 weigh-ins at the Bell Centre.

St. Pierre, however was treated like a conquering hero, earning a standing ovation from the crowd, which spread out to the upper deck after the lower and middle sections of the curtained-off end of the arena were filled.

Both competitors made weight for their main event title showdown Saturday night, as both came in at 169.5 pounds, a half-pound under the weight limit.

St. Pierre downplayed the talk that the two fighters don't like each other.

 "I do not fight in anger, I fight with my heart," he said. "Don't believe the hype, believe what you see on Saturday night."

Serra, for his part, was drowned out by the jeers of the audience every time he tried to speak. He contented himself to hold up two fingers, indicating he planned on beating St. Pierre a second time.

Most of the Canadian fighters received big ovations from the crowd, including Sam Stout of London, Ontario, who got a standing ovation. British Columbia's Kalib Starnes, Edmonton's Jason MacDonald and Quebec's Jonathan Goulet also got notable reactions.

American and former UFC middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin got the second-loudest reaction of the afternoon after St. Pierre. Franklin weighed in at 185.5 pounds. His opponent, Travis Lutter, got something of a mock round of applause for making weight. Lutter missed weight for his last fight, against Anderson Silva. Lutter clocked in at 185.

All 22 fighters made weight for the show. While most of the post-fight photo poses went without a hitch, Michael Bisping created a scene by popping off to opponent Charles McCarthy as they stared down. McCarthy stomped off the stage in anger, while Bisping, who got a vehement mixed reaction from the crowd, grinned from ear to ear. Likewise, MacDonald made a smirking comment at opponent Joe Doerksen, who turned around and walked off without shaking MacDonald's hand.

Full weigh-in results:

Jonathan Goulet 169.5 vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka 170

Cain Valasquez 235.5 vs. Morris 225.5

Sam Stout 155.5 vs. Rich Clementi 155

Ed Herman 185.5 vs. Damon Maia 184.5

Alan Belcher 185 vs. Jason Day 183.5

Jason MacDonald 185 vs. Joe Doerksen 184.5

Kalib Starnes 186 vs. Nate Quarry 185.5

Mac Danzig 154.5 vs. Mark Bocek 154.5

Michael Bisping 185.5 vs. Charles McCarthy 186

Rich Franklin 185.5 vs. Travis Lutter 185

Matt Serra 169.5 vs. Georges St. Pierre 169.5

What is your take on UFC 83? Will St. Pierre win the title in his hometown, or will Serra pull off another major upset? Will Franklin get back on track? How will Bisping's middleweight debut go? Let us know what you think.