05.27.11 UFC 130 Weigh In @ MGM Grand Garden Arena - Las Vegas, NV

Burt Watson and me

The UFC 130 weigh in went off without a hitch. The day started with a quick hello to the famous Burt Watson. I love that man. Absolutely adore him. He's like a second father to me.

Fighters waiting for the weigh in

Lots of stuff happens the same way it does at a boxing weigh in. All the fighters check in with the commission, get medicals, do paperwork, etc. But what makes UFC so much better than boxing is the control UFC has over their fighters. But Watson has all the fighters sitting in different sections of the arena in groups so that he knows where to find them - and this is the amazing part - they actually listen. They are so (either afraid) or respectful that they stay in their areas and don't wander. We tried this a long time ago with one of the boxing events and it was a disaster because with boxing entourages, the promoter has little or no control over them. But with UFC, they control all their fighters. I don't mean to make it sounds like they're a bunch of sheep who just do what the shepherd tells them. It's a level of respect that doesn't in any way exist in boxing.

Fighters signing autographs
at the UFC Octagon Nation Tour

The UFC weigh in begins. Fighters get on the scale, lots of loud music and hoopla and then it's all over in about 35 minutes. Beautiful.

UFC Octagon Nation Tour

Running concurrently with the weigh in is the UFC Octagon Nation Tour in the east lot of the arena. It's actually a kind of cool set up. They are fully self-contained and do fighter autograph sessions in this enormous air conditioned rig. There are also a couple of tents selling merch and have fun interactive things like a punching bag, scale, etc. It's actually well done. Because this was the first year I don't think many people knew it was there so it never really got busy but for the fans who did go, they had a great experience.

For more pics head to my FB page.

My night ended like it usually does, at Seablue. Today was a very good day.