The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Feb. 22, the UFC was back in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena. As expected, the stadium was packed with fans, but amidst the crowd of 18,300, there were sure to be people unfamiliar with the sport. Even if someone is not a UFC fan, witnessing it live at the stadium is a thrilling experience of its own. How do enthusiasts of the sport experience live events differently from first-timers?
UFC fans are loyal and devoted to the sport and the organization because UFC does everything in its power to treat fans well, ensuring all fans can attend at least one UFC event in their city. UFC made the ceremonial weigh-ins totally free for the audiences. The doors opened at 3 p.m. on Feb. 23, so even if fans can’t attend the main event, they at least have an opportunity to glance at their favorite fighters and cheer for them on the eve before the weigh-ins.
The weigh-ins started at 4 p.m., along with loud cheers from the audience. The ceremonial weigh-ins are a blood-pumping event; they showcase the dedication, discipline, and hard work of each fighter to the fans. Fighters make dramatic entrances, give out a chilling war cry, and face off with their opponent the night before they engage in battle. This excitement is enough to make anyone jump in anticipation, even someone who hasn’t been following these matches. Something primal deep within awakens and fans cannot help but cheer their heart out for these remarkable modern-day gladiators.
On the day UFC’s event arrived in Seattle, the minute attendees entered the stadium, they witnessed a variety of UFC enthusiasts with smiles on their faces and excitement in their hearts.
The venue and the planning were impeccable. Fans at this point knew that Dana White (UFC President and CEO) and the amazing members of staff were pinpoint perfect. Every little detail was considered for the event. The octagon was visible no matter where one was seated, along with two big screens to ensure the audience didn’t miss out on the fine details even if they were far from the octagon. The venue had ample merchandise stores, washrooms, eateries, entries, and exits. This all helped to direct a crowd of over 17,000 people with the utmost ease and no area felt unmanageable to navigate. There was also a liberal amount of staff to help direct patrons to their respective seats.
The event started at 3 p.m. and the stadium slowly filled up with people. For fans, the highlights were the fights; for newcomers, the environment was more of a crowning moment. The audience’s eyes lit up to see their favorite sport, live and in person. From the announcer Bruce Buffer’s chilling introductions that made the pupils dilate, fans and newcomers alike got hyped for an absolute war.
The fights themselves were some of the most exciting ones, with all seven fights in the preliminary rounds, and all seven were finished–either knockouts or submissions–which was amazing to witness. It was thrilling to see how intricate movements played such a vital role and to hear fans shout their opinions, cheering till their voices cracked and celebrating each victory as if it were their best friend fighting in that octagon. To quote a diehard fan, “MMA is poetry in motion, each step, each punch, every single movement has a purpose behind it, it is brutal but amazing to witness, it is simply beautiful violence.” These fights set a very high standard, as even seasoned fans were shocked to witness seven finishes in a row.
On the main card, three fights went for the full three rounds (five minutes each), with judges scoring the fight to determine a winner. The screens not only helped the audience get a better view at the fight but also gave replays and insights into the judges’ scorecards after the fights. One out of the five main-card fights was finished by knockouts, coming from the fists of a flamboyant fighter Jean Silva. The destruction he held in his hands was unexpected, but the moment he was introduced to the audience, something special was waiting to happen. Apart from his fighting ability, the man was the definition of an extrovert. His theatrics outside the octagon during walk-ins and weigh-ins were definitely amusing, but to showboat the way he did, in the heat of battle, was something to behold.
In an arena of 18,000 screaming fans, it should be hard to focus on the action below, but the fighters have a presence and aura that made them stand out. Even if one looks away for a second, the crowd’s enthusiasm snaps their attention back to the octagon. Every fight widened the range of clapping and cheering, and the chanting of “USA” filled the auditorium in support of the American fighters.
The main event pitted Henry Cejudo, a decorated athlete with a championship belt in two UFC weight divisions and an Olympic gold medal in wrestling, against young “Kung Fu Kid” Song Yadong, whose power and speed are on a level difficult to comprehend. It started off well, with Cejudo doing well with his striking and Song executing good counterattacks. However, the fight’s end began with an accidental poke to Cejudo’s left eye. After a five-minute recess, much to fans’ disappointment, the fight was stopped due to Cejudo allegedly not being able to see through the injured eye. The win was given to his opponent Song Yadong by way of a technical decision.
The frustration of the fans was evident; many had driven hours to attend the event only for it to end abruptly. First-time audience members were left puzzled, as to what happened and didn’t know what to make of it. Clear as day, Yadong felt the most frustration and disappointment. All that training and countless sacrifices–all for it to come to a sudden halt because of an accidental eye poke. Despite Yadong’s win, it was obvious to everyone that he did not feel he had earned it.
The final result was not enough to dampen what had been a great experience. Fans came out smiling, animatedly discussing the “beautiful violence” they had witnessed. The thrill of seeing the live fights and the UFC’s high production value led many to immediately hope for the UFC’s return to Seattle.
This event marked UFC’s return back to Seattle after more than a decade. The UFC was back with a bang, both metaphorically and literally, every time a fighter fell on the canvas of the octagon, the sound echoed across the stadium.
In the beginning, newcomers are usually in awe of the arena and the lively crowd. Once the fights commenced, the cheers and enthusiasm collectively took over the minds of the audience. Although first-timers might not know much about the fights, everyone eventually gets the hang of it and joins the crowd in assessing fighters and cheering spontaneously.
In conclusion, the UFC’s octagon effect proved too powerful to resist–newbies got the first experience of a lifetime, while long-time fans experienced a whirlwind of emotions. The night proved to be a memorable experience for all. There is no doubt that experiencing fights in a stadium beats sitting at home and watching them any day. A notable fact is that every time the UFC has an event, it seems to break new records and leave behind lasting memories. No one is immune to the octagon effect.
Author
Vrindha, an international student from India, is fueled by her fervent love for diverse art forms such as dance, drama, music and theatre. Eager to immerse herself in new experiences and broaden her horizons, she sees her involvement with the Collegian as a gateway to both sharing her passions and delving into new realms of knowledge.
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