I don't have much to show for it as far as pictures go, but it was a great time overall.
It started with a phone call a week before UFN. Some guy in the marketing department for 97.1 Free FM (LA radio station) called me and told me I won their UFC Guy Getaway prize. The prize package consisted of 2 nights at the Palms in Vegas, 2 tickets to UFN, and dinner for 2 at one of their restaurants.
My wife and I took off early in the morning on Thursday to make my way to the hotel. Check in is usually around 3:00 and the first bout was slated for 2:00. We got there around 9:30 and I walked up to check in. I was told that the room wasn't ready and to check back in around noon. I was given my tickets and made my way through the casino to get back to the parking lot. I had a few things with me for autographs (UFC and PRIDE logo prints on a sheet of paper), just in case I ran into any fighters. As I was walking through the casino, I saw Joe Stevenson sitting at a slot machine. I approached him and asked for an autograph. I apologized in case I was bothering him. He was pretty cool about it, saying that he was just waiting for his coach, then he shook my hand and I wished him luck.
I came back a little later and my room was ready with plenty of time left before the event. My wife and I made our way to our seats, which were great! They were almost directly centered in front of the Octagon, in the 2nd row of the top level. We had a great view of everything that was going on.
After the event was over, my wife had made her way back to the room while I stayed back for autographs. I waited around the lobby area of the Pearl, which was the only way in or out, it seemed. I saw Keith Jardine and his girlfriend get off the elevator and dash out the door unnoticed. He looked to be in a hurry, so I didn't want to hold him up. Then I saw Jens Pulver getting mobbed, so I walked up for an autograph. One guy asked me to take a picture of him and Jens, so I did and he returned the favor. I walked around a little more and then I saw Hermes Franca. There were only 3 or 4 people around him, so I approached him and got an autograph from him. Kurt Pellegrino was in the mix, but he had too many people around him, so I didn't bother.
Around this point, one of the security guys started asking people to make their way outside, so I did. I saw some guy that looked like Vin Diesel, so I walked over for a closer look. I don't know if it was him, but I saw that he was talking to Dean Lister. I was waiting for a break in the conversation, but it didn't come, so nothing happened there. Dean had a cast on his right arm from his hand to just above his elbow. I don't know what happened there.
I walked back to the crowd and they were mobbing Antoni Hardonk, so I didn't bother there either. I looked off to the side and I saw Kit Cope talking on his cell phone as someone walked up for a picture. I waited for him to get off the phone and then I asked for a picture also. He was pretty cool about it, though it seemed like he was surprised that he was recognized more than once.
After the picture with Kit, Shonie Carter popped out of nowhere and took some pictures and signed a few autographs for fans. I got an autograph from him, as well. I waited around a little bit and then Nick and Nathan Diaz walked out toward Kit. They greeted each other and then looked like they were waiting for someone. I asked Nick for an autograph and he obliged and then shook my hand. He looked like he healed pretty well from the Gomi fight. I didn't see any scar on him. Nathan was on his phone for a few seconds and I walked up to him after he hung up and got an autograph from him also.
I walked to the other side of the entrance, just a few feet away, and Kenny Florian was making his way out. He signed a few autographs, including one for me, and then made his way out somewhere. I looked over toward Shonie because I saw Kevin Randleman. Kevin was talking to a few people and I waited for a break in their conversations there also, but none came. In the meantime, Phil Baroni was standing around with his girlfriend (she was HOT!) I asked for an autograph and he signed one for me. I was kind of fumbling around with my pen as he stuck out his hand to shake mine. I couldn't get a grip on the pen, so he just patted me on the back and walked away. A while later, my wife and I went to the buffet and while we were eating, Melvin Guillard walked in with his mom and a couple of guys. I really didn't want to bother him while he was eating, so I didn't walk up to him or anything.
Anyway, not much to show for as far as pictures, but meeting these guys was great. I'm more of an autograph collector anyway, so it was a great experience for me.
