Everything We Know About the UFC's First Event at the Sphere
Almost one year ago, UFC president Dana White attended a U2 concert with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady at the brand-new Sphere in Las Vegas. Dana fell in love with the event's production, and one year later, the UFC will be the first to hold a live sporting event at the Sphere on one of the biggest cards of the year. The event itself is a celebration of combat sports in Mexico, and Dana White refers to the event as "a love letter to the Mexican people." Noche UFC, as the event is subtitled, will contain a vast amount of inclusive features that are specific to the event. This is a one-time event, an event that has a lot of hype around it. Fans are excited to see how the UFC spent $20 million dollars to produce this event, and you will not want to miss this one.
Ahead of Saturday, what do we know? The UFC has largely kept this event a secret, but Dana White and the production team have revealed glimpses of what to expect ahead of Saturday. Here's a breakdown of everything fans know regarding the production and execution of this event.
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Obviously... the FIRST Live Sporting Event Ever at the Sphere
This is monumental. The UFC kept fans engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing "Fight Island," and having fights at the UFC Apex, and now they will be the first to hold a live sporting event at this futuristic venue. Previously, the Sphere strictly held concerts, but this will be the first time we see a combat sports show, let alone sports, at the Sphere.
The First Ever 1080p Broadcast in ESPN History
ESPN has never recorded a live broadcast in 1080p, until now. The UFC has always done a spectacular job in producing the event, but UFC 306 will take that production to the next level, and fans will be able to watch the event with crystal clear quality. Dana White says that the goal of this event is to make fans at home feel like they're actually at the Sphere watching the fights.
Haptic Seat Feedback
Never been done before, the seats at the Sphere will incorporate "live feedback," which will give fans a whole new experience with watching fights live. The seats will vibrate and respond directly to strikes landed, takedowns, and fight-finishing sequences allowing fans to feel like they are inside the cage. You won't find this in any other arena.
Special Fight Kits
Venum has produced authentic fight kits specific to this event. The collection itself "symbolizes national pride and cultural heritage." Fighters are given three colors to choose from: red, green, and black, in which the colorways pay tribute to the Mexican flag. Walkout hoodies and shirts will feature primordial Aztec gods at the chest, with various symbols representing Mexican history and culture. Similar symbols will also appear on the fight shorts as well.
UFC Event "Rebrand" to Riyadh Season Noche UFC
The original UFC events, such as UFC 12: Judgement Day, for example, had names tied to the event. We have never seen anything like this until this weekend, but the UFC has granted a sponsor the title partner status. UFC 306 will be rebranded to Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
Octagon Girls
All eight octagon girls for this weekend's card have Mexican ties. Six are Mexican-born, and two will be second-generation Mexicans.
A Different Level of Production
The production level for this event will be out of this world. Fans in attendance can listen to live audio for the whole event in Spanish if they choose to. The UFC has also hired award-winning directors and producers to help this event follow through. These people have worked on high-caliber events like Taylor Swift concerts, the Super Bowl, and the Oscars, and have won multiple Emmys, Oscars, Golden Globes, and Grammys. Dana White has stated that he would like this event to be nominated for, and potentially win a similar award. Multiple production trucks have been added to help execute this event, and will just add to the level of preparation and execution for this event.
As for the event itself, Dana White has talked a lot about how the fights will play out inside the Sphere. Dana wanted to highlight the Sphere, but not take anything away from the fights while they are going on. Before each fight at Noche UFC, the audience will be taken through a historical journey on the combat sports history of Mexico. The Sphere will display segments of six 90-second clips, known as "films," and will start in the past, and end in the future. These films will only take place prior to each fight, and when there is action inside the cage, the films will transition into different "worlds" that will take up the gigantic LED screens around them.
A Record-Breaking Gate and PPV Numbers
Noche UFC has already broken the record for the largest gate in UFC history, surpassing more than $23 million dollars in revenue. This card surpassed other large events in the UFC's history like UFC 229, UFC 205, and UFC 300. This event is also trending to break records pay-per-view-wise, and this has the potential to become one of the biggest PPV events of all time, surpassing UFC 229 headlined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.
Finally... Easter Eggs? And a Prize?
Dana White revealed Tuesday night following Dana White's Contender Series that various Easter eggs will be hidden throughout the six 90-second movies that will play in between fights. Dana did not reveal anything regarding the specifics of these "Easter Eggs," but has told the media and fans that a $25,000 prize will be given to a viewer that is able to decipher these hidden eggs. Fans will surely be more engaged and tuned into the event than ever before.
With the event in just a few days, Noche UFC has become a once-in-a-lifetime event. Whether you are at the Sphere itself or watching at home, the overall goal and theme of this event is to celebrate the achievements of Mexican fighters like Cain Velasquez, Brandon Moreno, and Alexa Grasso, and for the UFC the show its appreciation for the Mexican people. This show represents the future of how a live sporting event can be played out.
