Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has released its guest list for the UFC Fan Expo 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which will coincide with the promotion's annual Fourth of July weekend event from July 6-7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Expo ends as UFC 148 begins, which is right across the street at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The pay-per-view (PPV) event will feature the 185-pound rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen.
But let's not put the cart before the horse.
Before any fists start flying on July 7, fans can meet and greet with legendary UFC, Pride FC and Strikeforce fighters, attend mixed martial arts (MMA) demonstrations, grappling "Super Fights," fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, as well as other combat related opportunities and entertainment.
The exhibit floor will also feature apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements and lifestyle products from over 150 leading vendors.
So, who's going to show up for some photo-ops and John Hancocks? The complete guest list (subject to change), courtesy of the UFC, after the jump.
UFC Hall of Famer CHUCK LIDDELL
UFC Hall of Famer RANDY COUTURE
Former two-division UFC champion BJ PENN
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion JON JONES
Former PRIDE® champion WANDERLEI SILVA
Former UFC light heavyweight champion TITO ORTIZ
UFC lightweight champion BENSON HENDERSON
UFC interim welterweight champion CARLOS CONDIT
UFC heavyweight champion JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
UFC Bantamweight Champion DOMINICK CRUZ
Former light heavyweight champion RASHAD EVANS
Former UFC heavyweight champion FRANK MIR
Former PRIDE® champion DAN HENDERSON
Former UFC heavyweight champion CAIN VELASQUEZ
Former UFC Welterweight Champion MATT SERRA
Former interim UFC heavyweight champion SHANE CARWIN
STRIKEFORCE women's bantamweight champion RONDA ROUSEY
STRIKEFORCE Lightweight Champion GILBERT MELENDEZ
Former STRIKEFORCE heavyweight champion ALISTAIR OVEREEM
STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion DANIEL CORMIERAlso featuring: PAT BARRY, ALAN BELCHER, JOSEPH BENAVIDEZ, STEPHAN BONNAR, DANNY CASTILLO, DONALD CERRONE, PHIL DAVIS, SHANE DEL ROSARIO, JOHN DODSON, EVAN DUNHAM, REUBEN DURAN, BRIAN EBERSOLE, JAKE ELLENBERGER, LOUIS GAUDINOT, CLAY GUIDA, DAN HARDY, JOHNY HENDRICKS, CONOR HEUN, CJ KEITH, JOSH KOSCHECK, DUANE LUDWIG, RORY MACDONALD, VINNY MAGALHAES, OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST SARA MCMANN, IAN MCCALL, MICHAEL MCDONALD, JIM MILLER, ROY NELSON, ANTHONY PETTIS, JENS PULVER, MIKE PYLE, FRANCISCO RIVERA, BEN ROTHWELL, AMIR SADOLLAH, CHRIS SAUNDERS, CHAN SUNG JUNG, JAMIE VARNER, and EDDIE YAGIN.
In addition, UFC Octagon Girls® ARIANNY CELESTE and BRITTNEY PALMER will appear, as will STRIKEFORCE ring girls CHRISSY HUBBARD and VANESSA HANSON. UFC commentators MIKE GOLDBERG, JOE ROGAN and JON ANIK will also make appearances, along with Octagon announcer BRUCE BUFFER. The UFC Fan Expo will also feature appearances by Best of PRIDE® host KENDA PEREZ and noted referees HERB DEAN, DAN MIRAGLIOTTA and JOSH ROSENTHAL.
To purchase tickets for the UFC 2012 Fan Expo click here, and don't forget, there are also some huge fights taking place that weekend.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on the upcoming UFC Fan Expo and to see what all the fuss is about, check out our live coverage from the exhibit floor in Toronto as well as Houston by clicking here and here.