Visitor’s Guide to MMA Events in Las Vegas
Attending an MMA event in Las Vegas should be on the bucket list of every fight fan. Watching a fight on pay-per-view is fun, but there is no denying the unparalleled excitement of attending an MMA fight in person. As the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas is one of the best cities to see a fight also due to its strong history and promotion of mixed martial arts. Here is what you need to know when going to an MMA fight in Las Vegas.
You can find all the big MMA fights in Las Vegas: UFC, Bellator MMA, World Series of Fighting, Invicta FC, World Extreme Cagefighting, etc. Most events are held at venues right on The Strip, such as at MGM Grand Garden Arena, T-Mobile Arena, or Mandalay Bay Events Center. On big fight weekends, the entire Strip is one big celebration with no shortage of options of restaurants and clubs to hit up before and after the fight.
Tickets
For popular UFC fights in Vegas that are sure to sell out, the best way to guarantee you get tickets is by joining the UFC Fight Club. You get some nice perks with the membership, and you get access to pre-sale tickets. However, if you aren’t ready to dish out the extra money, you can sign up for the UFC newsletter for free, which gives you access to buy tickets at least one day before it is open to the public. Once the tickets are open to the public, they tend to go quickly. When those run out, your last resort is buying tickets from a licensed reseller, which could cost you a pretty penny.
Planning Your Trip
Book a hotel close to the event - ideally, at the hotel that is hosting the fight. These hotels usually have extra promotions and parties surrounding the main event (sometimes even for free). Also, the MMA fighters sometimes stay at the hotel that hosts the event, so there is always the chance you will run into them by the pool, in the poker room or on the elevator!
Another advantage to staying in the hotel that hosts the event is that you won’t have to deal with the hassle or cost of transportation. On a busy weekend, The Strip can get backed up with traffic (both driving and foot traffic). If you aren’t staying at or nearby the hotel/venue hosting the event, plan for lots of time to get from one place to the next. Download ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft in advance. If you bring a vehicle, decide on a designated driver, and have cash on hand to pay for parking. Rather than drive, maybe share a ride with Uber and get dropped off right in front of the action. Or, still yet take the Monorail, which can drop you off at the MGM Grand Station.
What To Do Before the Fight
Fight “nights” can turn into full-day, or even full-weekend events. The Friday night before UFC fights is the weigh-In event, which is free and open to the public. Saturday is the big day with MMA matches starting as early as 3pm, and the main card starting around 8pm. If you’d rather skip the prelim fights, there is plenty to do in Vegas to get the party started.
Before heading to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, have a casual bite to eat at TAP Sports Bar, or sip on a hand-crafted cocktail from Whiskey Down. Try your luck at a wide variety of table games, or play a few hands of poker. For a true Vegas fight night experience, head over to MGM Sports Book to lay a wager on your favorite fighter. Having money on the MMA fight will be sure to increase your excitement while watching it!
After the Fight After Party
When the fight is over, the night is just getting started. Fight fans often congregate post-event at one of several late-night destinations or after-parties around Vegas. Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay boasts some of the best late-night eats. Dance on all three levels at the beautiful Hakkasan Nightclub at MGM Grand. Across the street, Jewel Nightclub at Aria features a 24,000 sq. ft. dance floor with the hottest DJ’s in the world. If you are lucky, you might see some of the MMA fighters partying with you!
For information on the next MMA event in Las Vegas, keep an eye on MGM’s Entertainment Calendar, and start planning your trip!