Friday morning, we headed out to the MGM for Fight Club check-in only to find the line already forming for the autograph signings to be held at 1pm! I planted myself in line and waited patiently for the arena doors to open. While we waited we got plenty of pics with fighters passing through (Josh, Joe “Daddy”, Gabriel, Scott, etc…).

The autograph session was with Andrei Arlovski, Rashad Evans, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Roger Huerta. Because it was free to the public, you can imagine the "hurry up and wait" line we were herded through. Worth the wait to see some of these guys, though…

At weigh-ins (broadcast on ESPN News live for the first time), we sat about 12 rows back from the stage. It was packed and the fans were loud! A few of the fighters were relaxed and smiling for the crowd, others were very focused and ready to pummel their opponent. The most intense face offs were between Keith Jardine and Houston Alexander, Karo Parysian and Josh Burkman, and of course, between Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. I was amazed at the crowd reaction to Rampage...amazed that he was actually booed entering the arena!

After weigh-ins, we hung around to say hello to the Octagon Girls, Arianny and Ali (we knew Arianny from the Olympia Expo). On the way out, we were stopped and I was actually interviewed about my thoughts on the main fight by ABC News Las Vegas! (Of course, I was "all about the cheda’, baby!" And they quoted me on that!)

And our first UFC experience didn't end there.

THE BEST PART IS YET TO COME...

That night, we headed out to the pre-fight party at the Voodoo Lounge on the rooftop of the Rio Hotel (51 stories up!). We hung out with some up and coming fighters and I even won a signed copy of the new Sports Illustrated with Roger Huerta gracing the cover! We made some new friends and had some drinks. But the night wasn’t over yet…a friend of ours had been invited to Brittney Skye’s party at the Stratosphere! So Chris and I headed over to “Polly Esther’s” and danced and drank a little more before heading back to the hotel for the night.

On Saturday morning, we got an unexpected call from a couple of guys we met at Voodoo the night before…they had 2 extra seats for the fight and wanted to know if we might like to go! HELL YES!!! Unbelievable! I was so excited by the offer!!! No strings attached..we sat on the floor of the arena, 11 rows back from the octagon for one of the biggest fights of the year! I am still in awe…

After the fight we partied at Studio 54, another experience in itself…

Curious about anything else on our adventure? Just ask…