While Tuesday was Media Day for perhaps the most unlikely matchup in Super Bowl history, on Wednesday it was the UFC's turn for perhaps the most anticipated matchup in MMA history.
Okay, I'm using hyperbole (I sound like Dana White). But I don't think there's a fight fan out there who isn't looking forward to seeing Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn 2.
The pre-fight festivities got underway at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Wednesday at the UFC 94 news conference in Las Vegas.
Now there's no way this fight week's first gathering of athletes, fans and media would be mistaken for what went on the day before in Tampa (There certainly weren't any dudes dressed up like Scarlett Johansson).
Surprisingly the energy in the Hollywood Theatre was quite low key and the attendance paled in comparison to the number who showed up in November at a news conference in Toronto. Well, that's because it's still early and the pre-fight hype hasn't hit full steam yet. The UFC normally holds this news conference on Thursday, the day before the weigh-ins, but the venue was booked for Thursday, so they had to move it up a day.
But that's not to say there wasn't a fair share of avid supporters -- and from all over the globe. The predictable "When will the UFC be back in Canada?" question was posed by one fan, who of course tacked on a "Go GSP!"
The answer from White was no surprise; he again confirmed the UFC will be back in Montreal in April.
Taking a cue from Penn himself, a Hawaiian fan piped in with, "When can we expect the UFC in Hawaii?" (Followed of course by "Go B.J.!") White said taxes were the problem there.
Even a fan from Down Under made the trip up, and he wanted to know if the UFC was planning to come to Australia. White said he wants to go "everywhere," and this is evidenced by UFC’s first trip to Germany later this year.
And then there was this one, proud Canadian couple, Rob and Adrienne. I met them at the airport in Toronto before flying out Wednesday morning to Vegas. It was easy to tell they were headed to the same destination as me, what with their Tapout MMA gear. Of course, they got to share in my aggravation of the flight being delayed 90 minutes while the plane was de-iced. (The 15 degrees C temperature in Vegas might not match the balmy conditions in Tampa, but they are certainly welcome!)
Rob and Adrienne are active UFC Fight Club members and are organizing the pre-fight party for UFC 94 (if you're a Fight Club member and in Vegas, head to Diablo's at Monte Carlo Friday night).
Arriving just in time for the news conference, their support for their native son was evident by their draping of themselves in a Canadian flag (Of course, they also had a Hawaiian flag on hand for good measure).
However, that doesn't mean their allegiances are torn.
"GSP all the way," they say.
The first UFC event they ever attended was the one in Montreal and they haven't slowed down since.
"Last year I probably spent $15,000 US going to shows."
That's either dedication or some serious fanhood, or both.
Patrick Cote, who fought on a Super Bowl weekend card a couple of years ago, said the experience was a little different than fighting on a typical card in Las Vegas, because of all the people in town to bet on the "Big Game" who go to the UFC show and aren't really knowledgeable about MMA.
But with the mainstream attention the sport has received in the past two years, that likely won't be the case anymore.
"Super Bowl weekend is the biggest weekend in Las Vegas," White said. "I think there's going to be a lot of Canadians there. I think there's going to be a lot of Hawaiians and a lot of hard-core fans. There's going to be some big players that MGM brings in too. It's going to be a knowledgeable crowd."
So while I expect the hype to build throughout the week and for us to get a lot more stories on this epic super-fight for the ages (there's that hyperbole again), Penn summed up the moment succinctly when he was introduced to the podium, prior to the fighters being pelted with questions.
"I'm here. I'm ready. Let's go."
Indeed.
"Big Game" James Brydon blogs on MMA for Sportsnet.ca and is in Las Vegas this week to cover UFC 94.
