As the beautiful game showcases its marquee event in Brazil, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is doing the same with their own product.
While it’s not on the global scale of soccer’s World Cup, this weekend in Las Vegas, the UFC is holding the sport’s grandest ball of them all.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC 175 prelims Saturday at 8 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360 and watch the entire live TUF 19 Finale Sunday starting at 7 p.m. EST on Sportsnet 360.
For the first time in the organization’s history, the UFC will be holding back-to-back events in one city, in one venue and topping it off with a Fan Expo which will see tens of thousands of MMA fans enjoy a carnival showcasing all that is great about the sport.
While the Expo’s doors do not open until Saturday morning, there are already thousands of fans here in Sin City, many of which have already enjoyed a head start on those who have yet to arrive. On Wednesday, they, along with the media, were privy to the open workouts on the runway at The Fashion Mall where a bevy of fighters showcased their skills, broke a sweat, with some even doing a full workout.
Urijah Faber, who will take on Alex Caceres in the final prelim bout for Saturday’s UFC 175, demonstrated his incredible hand speed and takedown arsenal, while Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman put on a wrestling clinic on training partner and UFC light heavyweight Gian Villante.
But the star of the day was UFC Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, who electrified those in attendance with her devastating Judo set ups and throws, tossing international champion judoka, Justin Flores with enough ferocity, to seriously hurt a non-trained individual. The scary part was that she was likely only going at a fraction of what she did as an Olympic medalist and what she has showcased in her bouts as a mixed martial artist.
Even her striking coach Edmond Tarverdyan felt some of the brunt of the champion’s force, eating a few punches when holding the striking pads for his champion. I generally felt bad for him, but he continually shook off the damage and trekked on ensuring his pupil got what she needed during the workout.
To wit, the fighters also took the time to do a bit of media while then taking pictures and signing autographs for the fans who were lined up all around the runway.
The rest of the media for the athletes took place on Thursday, where stations were set up for Weidman, Rousey, Faber as well as their opponents Lyoto Machida, Canadian Alexis Davis and Caceres, but also for those competing on Sunday, former lightweight champion and now featherweight contender Frankie Edgar and his opponent, MMA legend BJ Penn.
The two, who coached on this season’s Ultimate Fighter, were joined by the four men who will be competing in Sunday’s TUF Finale: Middleweight’s Dhiego Lima and Eddie Gordon as well as Light Heavyweight’s Matt Van Buren and Corey Anderson.
Prior to these stars showing up, the UFC first showcased the full straw weight cast of next season’s TUF 20; a litany of the best women’s fighters at 125 lbs. The vast majority were all smiles, as the show only went into production earlier this week, but after their media appearances, they were whisked away along with coaches Anthony Pettis, the lightweight champion of the world, and his next challenger, Gilbert Melendez.
The glowing grins will be replaced by mouth guards, as their lives will forever change due to the fishbowl nature that is the six weeks of living in The Ultimate Fighter house. Gone is the outside world, as the business of becoming the first ever UFC strawweight champion becomes priority number one.
While the past few days have been busy and feel like a blur, many of us are in agreement that we are just getting started. There is much to report and dissect when it comes to UFC 175 and the TUF Finale. There are MMA dignitaries who have yet to arrive, legends and royalty are still on their way, and the final prep for many of the fan fests around the city are almost completed.
Brazil may be hosting the World Cup but in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, the grandest ball of them all, is taking place, right now, in the hot sun and bright lights, of beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada.