The UFC will kick off its Fox Sports 1 tenure Aug. 17 with UFC Fight Night 26: Shogun vs. Sonnen. It isn’t fight week just yet, but UFC president Dana White is clearly looking forward to the event and has begun pumping out his video blogs a bit early this time around.
Because we are still a fair ways away from UFC Fight Night 26, White’s first entry doesn’t focus too heavily on the upcoming event. Yes, there is a little “sickest live free fight card on free TV ever seen” chatter at the outset, but the majority of the video is actually a behind the scenes look at UFC 162: Silva vs. Weidman.
As per usual, White’s video blog grants us a closer look at the things we don’t see during broadcasts. In this case, that includes fighters preparing to enter the Octagon, fighters returning backstage from either victory or defeat and Bruce Buffer dispensing advice on how to overcome a raspy voice.
It’s an interesting glimpse at the focus and concentration demanded prior to a fight and the frustration (Chris Leben wasn’t pleased with Andrew Craig’s game plan) pain (Rafaello Oliveira was carried from the Octagon after taking too many leg-kicks from Edson Barboza) and jubilation (Chris Weidman was pretty darn happy about becoming the middleweight champion) that comes afterwards.
So while the “UFC on Fox Sports 1 Video Blog” is a bit of a misnomer because the episode is mainly about UFC 162, it’s worth a watch anyway.
And if you’re more interested in looking forward rather than back and are disappointed that the entry doesn’t feature UFC Fight Night 26 more heavily, be patient—White promises more entries are to follow.
Given how solid the Aug. 17 card looks from bottom to top, there will certainly be much to discuss in the next 10 days or so leading up to the event.
We’ll get you those videos as the UFC releases them.
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