As if running back-to-back Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events in Las Vegas, Nevada, wasn't difficult enough, the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion plans to run its annual "Fan Expo" simultaneously across both days.
And it will do it all from Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sat., July 5, 2014 -- the scene for UFC 175 -- and Sun., July 6, 2014 -- for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 Finale. In addition, the promotion has once again teamed up with Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to stage the third annual "International Fight Week" that begins on July 1, 2014.
It's a week-long celebration!
More details from the press release:
"Several of the hottest locations in Las Vegas will host UFC themed events and fans will have access to UFC stars and celebrities. The UFC Fan Expo will also return with new activities, youth and adult, grappling and martial arts tournaments, fan contests, live performances showcasing Las Vegas talent, more main stage activities, and exciting experiences for fans to interact with fighters. Other fan favorite activities will return including a pool party with Octagon Girls®, training sessions with fighters, a free concert, weigh-ins and more. Appearances, activities and on-sale dates will be announced in the coming weeks."
Ay caramba.
It's unclear at this time who will headline UFC 175; however, with Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones fighting next month and his Middleweight contemporary, Chris Weidman, returning to action one month later -- and Lightweight kingpin Anthony Pettis likely tied up filming TUF 20 opposite Gilbert Melendez -- one would assume that the promotion would lean on it's "biggest star," Ronda Rousey, to lead the pay-per-view (PPV) way.
Newly-minted Welterweight champion, Johny Hendricks, is a possibility, too, but UFC would seemingly want to trot out its biggest box office star on such a tremendous weekend.
TUF 19 Finale, meanwhile, is the culmination of the FOX Sports 1-produced show that will feature former UFC Lightweight champions Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn as coaches. "The Answer" and "The Prodigy" are scheduled to compete for a third and final time -- this time at Featherweight -- but the promotion hasn't yet announced at which event.
MMAmania.com will be sure to pass along more details about this unprecedented week-long event, as well as UFC 175 and TUF 19 Finale fight cards, as soon -- and often -- as possible.