How likely are you to meet fighters at UFC events?

[devilmaysquid]

This may sound like a silly question, but I'm debating going to the fight card that's coming up in Nashville in August (depending on how much tickets are and how the fight card shapes up) seeing how it's pretty close to where I live at. I know it's going to be a fight night card and not a big PPV card, but by your experiences, how likely is it to run in to fighters and maybe get a picture with them at events like this?

 

[Blindead]

This may sound like a silly question, but I'm debating going to the fight card that's coming up in Nashville in August (depending on how much tickets are and how the fight card shapes up) seeing how it's pretty close to where I live at. I know it's going to be a fight night card and not a big PPV card, but by your experiences, how likely is it to run in to fighters and maybe get a picture with them at events like this?

Ricardo Lamas walked right by the 1st section I was in. Charles Rosa walked right down my row.

If you have shit seats you aren't meeting anyone unless its at weigh ins, a Q/A, or if you manage to figure out what hotel they're all at.

 

[Megatronlee]

If you do the whole process (media day ,presser,weigh ins, and fight night" you will meet SOMEBODY. I saw forrest ,cowboy,jorge Rivera etc

 

[irishfree]

How about you just go and enjoy the event. If you happen to get a picture with a fighter, look at it as a little cool bonus. The event itself is more than enough.

 

[SnowBlynd]

Everytime I went I met fighters or people in the biz like dana. I don't agree with everything dana says but he is cool as shit to the fans.

 

[Koscheck24]

I have met the following fighters at events:

Mark Coleman (in the hotel)
Chris Lytle (in the hotel)
Cub Swanson
Matthew Riddle
Urijah Faber x2
TJ Dillashaw
Joseph Benavidez
Danny Castillo x2
Ramsey Nijem
Chael Sonnen
Mark Munoz
Rory MacDonald (walking into the arena)
Sam Alvey
Martin Kampmann
Al Iaquinta (in the elevator after his loss to Chiesa)
Miles Jury
Dominick Cruz
Kenny Florian
Sam Sicilia
Mike Rio
Melvin Guillard
Vinc Pichel x2
Scott Jorgensen (in the hotel after his loss to Faber)
Daron Cruickshank

Non-fighters
Dana
Skyscrape
Punk Ass
Britney Palmer
Bruce Buffer

I got a pic with most of them. I also went to the fan expo and met a ton of fighters. To be fair I have been to a lot of events, but there has only been one event where I didn't meet a fighter. I had Jones and Ronda both walk by me at that one, but I don't really like them and they were trying to avoid the mobs of people following them.

 

[JfPuffNStuff]

I've been to three events and met multiple fighters every time. The undercard fighters normally walk around and stay and watch the fights. That's how I met most of them. I've met, Anthony Pettis, Sergio Pettis, Pat Militech, Brandon Thatch, Chico Camus, Darren Elkins, Jason High and LC Davis. Chico and Militech were the nicest by far.

 

[Hans Gercmiov]

When I went to 171 Weidman was posted up by an Air Force bus taking pictures and signing autographs to whoever felt like waiting in line. Also saw tons of fighters walking in the crowd, but I didn't want to chase them down.

 

[killakillakilla]

I've met fighters every time I've gone to UFC events - 5 times now. I was once joking around with these guys at an event. I was trying to get them to believe that I regularly train with Matt Mitrione, and while I was telling them this, I very nearly walked right into Matt Mitrione. It was hilarious at the time. Hang out at the bars that operate in the stadium. You will definitely meet fighters there.

 

[SavageAngel]

The event that I met most fighters was the 2012 Silva vs Bonnar event here in Brazil.

I attended the weigh ins and the event itself. After each fight I woul go down the lower halls and I would see each fighter go back to the locker rooms with almost no fans there. I shook the hands of most of them and talked to a few. I remember the best one was Nogueira. He had just submitted his oppoennt and he was smiling and I congratulated him, It was a nice moment

Also, there was a Fan-expo. I got a pic with Wanderlei, and I talked to JDS, Diego Brandao, Gray Maynard, Lil Nog and the one and only THE ULTIMATE CHEEDAH!!!!

I literally froze when Machida walked by me. I couldn`t say a word. His wife laughed at me I think.

 

[MilesAbove]

Depends if you keep your eyes open. You have a better chance seeing them at the weigh-ins and hotel/casino though.

 

[TCE]

I've been to 3 and I've only ever met Ross Pearson. Got a photo with him at the Gus/Manuwa event. This was only because our seats were right by the broadcast where Gareth A. Davies and Pearson were talking about the event way up in the stands.

Not sure about the States, but in the UK, the likelihood of meeting a fighter at an event is very slim.

 

[chitoortiz]

Been to a lot of events.

Any Fight Night or Fox Card I've been to, I always met several fighters. They are everywhere at the smaller shows.

The numbered UFC's I'll meet a few here or there but it's not anywhere near the fight night shows.

The shows in Foxwoods and Atlantic City were a gold mine for meeting fighters.