Tag: UFC Apex

UFC implements new Apex seating policy, fighter’s family, friends ‘Escorted’ from arena after bouts

UFC introduce new ticket policy for fighters at APEX family escorted out of seats after fightsThe UFC has implemented a change that will allow fighters to receive tickets if they fight at the UFC…

UFC introduce new ticket policy for fighters at APEX family escorted out of seats after fights

The UFC has implemented a change that will allow fighters to receive tickets if they fight at the UFC Apex.

Tickets for events at the Apex are solid to the general public and go for thousands of dollars, leaving many fighters not having their family or friends in attendance for their fights. However, on Tuesday, MMAJunkie obtained a letter from the promotion’s Chief Business Officer, Hunter Campbell detailing a significant change.

UFC

“Beginning with UFC FIGHT NIGHT this Saturday, April 6, athletes who compete on cards at UFC APEX will receive four (4) seats for friends and family to watch their fight only,” Campbell wrote. “Following the bout, your guests will be escorted out of APEX. This practice will be in effect for all events at UFC APEX going forward. UFC Event Operations VIP Hosts will coordinate all details with you during fighter check-in of your respective fight weeks at the host hotel. All details will be provided, including specific arrival times for your guests.”

For events outside of the Apex, fighters typically receive four tickets but that wasn’t the case for Apex events. Instead, the organization will now give each fighter four tickets, but they will be shuffled out of the event once their fight is over, allowing fans to still buy tickets for events at the Apex.

UFC exec says Apex will ‘always be in the mix’

Although many fans have wanted the promotion to no longer hold events at the Apex, following UFC 284, executive David Shaw revealed the Apex would likely always be in the mix to host events.

Hunter Campbell The Next UFC Boss

“I think the APEX is always gonna be in the mix now, it make a lot of sense,” Senior Vice President for International Operations and Content Dave Shaw told reporters at the UFC 284 press conference (Via MMAMania). “We kinda turn off the lights and lock the doors when the event is over. It makes sense from an ease of operations.”

“It also makes sense as a good fallback plan, if we have something that just doesn’t work out in a venue or if it’s tough to get to a certain city we want to get to, we can always go to the APEX. I think there’s a lot of advantages to it. I don’t know the number (of events per year) but I think it will always be in the mix.”

Dana White recalls losing $3 million while gambling drunk in Las Vegas I was having a blast
Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger – Zuffa LLC

With this latest change for fighters getting tickets, it’s likely the Apex will continue to remain in the rotation for hosting UFC events, despite many fans and fighters complaining about it.

‘Khabib Plz Stop For 4 Photo’: 66-year-old Woman Withstands Heat To Meet Her Hero

KhabibSince signing off with a second-round triangle choke success over Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje [22-3-0] at Fight Island’s UFC 254, there’s clearly been no drop-off in the outpouring of love for Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov [29-0-0], Dagestan’s lightweight GOAT shoo-in.  Braving the searing 105°F heat of the Las Vegas streets, 66-year-old birthday girl and MMA […]

Khabib

Since signing off with a second-round triangle choke success over Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje [22-3-0] at Fight Island’s UFC 254, there’s clearly been no drop-off in the outpouring of love for Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov [29-0-0], Dagestan’s lightweight GOAT shoo-in. 

Braving the searing 105°F heat of the Las Vegas streets, 66-year-old birthday girl and MMA die-hard Nelly Gonzalez smoothly stalked her 155lb hero at the UFC Apex, after getting wind of his attendance.

Armed with her homespun sign, inscribed with the words “Khabib plz stop for 4 photo”, the fanatical Colombian national wasted no time in courting the attention of a certain Dana Fredrick White Jr., who used his CEO sway to swerve Senora Gonzalez past security and into the air-conditioned Apex.

“I’m gonna get you to meet him, okay? I’ll get you a meeting with Khabib,” White revealed.

After exchanging numbers, it didn’t take long for White to make good on his word, with Khabib’s arrival leaving the California resident grinning from ear to ear. The meeting was promptly uploaded to the UFC’s Twitter and Instagram accounts on Wednesday, with the look on Nelly’s face painting an absolute picture:

Clearly believing she was on a run, cheeky Nelly quizzed head honcho Dana, on the possibility of securing a cage-side pass for Saturday’s star-studded show.

The Instagram story cuts out before a definitive answer was provided but make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Nelly around the Octagon this weekend!

Jealous of Nelly? Which UFC superstar would you most like to meet?

Dana White Announces UFC Is Building A Hotel In Las Vegas To ‘Be Completely Self-Sufficient’

Dana WhiteThe UFC campus in Las Vegas is getting a hotel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dana White and the UFC have had to make several adjustments in order to continue to run events. One of the major changes was the majority of events are at the UFC Apex at the UFC’s headquarters. They also created Fight […]

Dana White

The UFC campus in Las Vegas is getting a hotel.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dana White and the UFC have had to make several adjustments in order to continue to run events. One of the major changes was the majority of events are at the UFC Apex at the UFC’s headquarters. They also created Fight Island so international fighters could continue to fight.

Although both ideas have been a success, White and the UFC are still aren’t done creating news ideas to overcome the pandemic.

“I don’t even know if you guys know this, but f-ck it, I’ll tell you anyway,” White told reporters following Tuesday’s Dana White’s Contender Series 30 event at UFC Apex (h/t MMAJunkie). “We just bought 10 acres over here, too. We’ve got another 10 acres now. More stuff coming soon.”

When asked what more stuff might be, Dana White revealed they would be building a hotel.

“We’re going to build our own hotel,” White said. “We’ll be completely self-sufficient.”

Although hotels in Las Vegas are extremely popular for tourists, White reveals it would not be for the public right now. Instead, it would be to host the fighters that are competing.

“It will be more designed for fighters,” White said. “Just like the Apex was designed for fighting and putting on special events, this place would be designed exactly for what our needs are in a hotel.”

Currently, UFC fighters are staying at either the Holiday Inn or Residence Inn, where it is just UFC fighters there. For Dana White, he knows this hotel would pay for itself quickly as renting out an entire hotel is certainly not cheap.

“Obviously with what’s going on right now, our own hotel would pay for itself real quickly,” White said.

The hope is to have the hotel operational for early 2021.

What do you make of the UFC building its own hotel?

UFC APEX Results: Tyron Woodley Vs. Gilbert Burns

UFC ApexLowKickMMA will be bringing you UFC APEX results throughout tonight (Sat. 30 May, 2020) from Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event of the evening, Tyron Woodley will make his return to the octagon after losing his belt in 2019. The former champion was originally booked to face rising contender Leon Edwards in February before […]

UFC Apex

LowKickMMA will be bringing you UFC APEX results throughout tonight (Sat. 30 May, 2020) from Las Vegas, Nevada.

In the main event of the evening, Tyron Woodley will make his return to the octagon after losing his belt in 2019. The former champion was originally booked to face rising contender Leon Edwards in February before the event had to be cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Facing him will be Gilbert Burns, a former lightweight making the move up to Welterweight then going on a tear boasting a five-fight win streak including most recently a knockout of former title challenger Damian Maia. The winner of this bout will have a strong claim at getting the next title shot against Kamaru Usman.

Check out our UFC Apex results below. Also, make sure you follow along with us on twitter @LowKick_MMA

UFC Apex Results:

Main Card (ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET)

  • Welterweight: Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns
  • Heavyweight: Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Catch-weight: Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle
  • Lightweight: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver
  • Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers

Preliminary Card (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)

  • Women’s Flyweight: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Antonina Shevchenko
  • Welterweight: Daniel Rodriguez vs. Gabe Green
  • Light-Heavyweight: Jamahal Hall vs. Klidson Abreu
  • Flyweight: Tim Elliot vs. Brandon Royval
  • Bantamweight: Louis Smolka vs. Casey Kenney
  • Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Vince Morales

John McCarthy Suggests Reason For UFC Preferring Smaller Octagon For APEX Events

UFCUFC To Use Smaller Cage For APEX Events The UFC has a very specific reason for its preference of a smaller Octagon according to veteran referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy. The promotion resumes its fight schedule with UFC on ESPN 9 this Saturday which is expected to take place at the Apex facility in Las Vegas […]

UFC

UFC To Use Smaller Cage For APEX Events

The UFC has a very specific reason for its preference of a smaller Octagon according to veteran referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy.

The promotion resumes its fight schedule with UFC on ESPN 9 this Saturday which is expected to take place at the Apex facility in Las Vegas — that is, pending the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s meeting tomorrow discussing the return of professional sports.

Should the event go through as planned, however, the action will take place in a 25-foot Octagon rather than the standard 30-foot Octagon we are accustomed to seeing. That’s according to MMA Junkie’s John Morgan.

“For all the degenerates, the analysts and the generally curious, UFC official tells me the Apex shows will be contested in a 25′ cage rather than the 30′ octagon we generally see at most UFC events.”

Morgan went on to add that the UFC prefers the bigger cage but certain venues don’t allow for it. McCarthy disagrees, though.

He believes the APEX facility is more than big enough to hold a 30-foot Octagon — the UFC just wants a smaller cage so that it creates more action with the fights.

“UFC operations staff knows it can put a 30ft cage in the Apex. The UFC prefers the smaller 25ft cage because they feel it creates more action. Fighters tend to like the 30ft cage because of the space. 25 ft cage came from WEC days and Joe Silva loved it. It’s just preference”

Morgan replied stating that UFC president Dana White personally prefers the bigger cage but that it’s worth asking again ahead of this weekend’s event.

“I’ve asked Dana before about using smaller cage more often, but he actually said he prefers bigger one for the look on broadcast. Sure it will be worth asking again this weekend since it seems they absolutely could switch out at Apex. Can’t fit at all venues, such as Palms.”

It’s certainly an interesting theory as the smaller the cage, the less space to move which only makes it easier for the fighters to make contact and engage with each other.

What do you think?

UFC Announces Full Card For May 30 Event

May 30During an interview with ESPN, UFC president Dana White announced the entire card for their event on May 30. The event is to be headlined by former Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley facing rising contender Gilbert Burns in a bout that could determine the next title challenger. Tyron Woodley will be making his first walk to […]

May 30

During an interview with ESPN, UFC president Dana White announced the entire card for their event on May 30.

The event is to be headlined by former Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley facing rising contender Gilbert Burns in a bout that could determine the next title challenger.

Tyron Woodley will be making his first walk to the octagon since losing his belt to the current champion Kamaru Usman in 2019. Originally scheduled to face Leon Edwards in February, that fight had to be called off due to the rise of the coronavirus pandemic making it impossible to hold events.

Gilbert Burns is coming off a knockout win against Damian Maia earlier this year at UFC Brasilia. Since this victory Burns has had his target set on a matchup with the former champion, taking to social media shortly after volunteering to face Woodley on any event the UFC needed.

The UFC hopes to hold the event at their private facility (the UFC Apex) in Las Vegas, however, they will still need to get approval from the Nevada state athletic commission before they are able to use the site for events. The UFC expects a verdict on this at a meeting on May 27th.

The entire event will be available on ESPN and ESPN+.

Main Card (9 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)

  • Welterweight: Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns
  • Heavyweight: Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai
  • Welterweight: Kevin Holland vs. Daniel Rodriguez
  • Lightweight: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver
  • Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers

Preliminary Card (6 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+)

  • Flyweight: Katlyn Chookagian vs. Antonina Shevchenko
  • Catchweight (150 pounds): Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle
  • Light Heavyweight: Jamahal Hill vs. Klidson Abreu
  • Flyweight: Tim Elliott vs. Brandon Royval
  • Bantamweight: Louis Smolka vs. Casey Kenney
  • Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Vince Morales

What are your thoughts on the full card?