When the tickets for UFC 261 and 262 went on sale, they barely lasted a few minutes.
Tired of watching events unfold on TV screens, fans in Jacksonville (FL) will pack out the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday night with 15,000 in attendance.
Details of the move to return to full-capacity crowds were announced in March.
WE ARE BACK!!!!!!#UFC261 April 24th. Jacksonville, FL. FULL CROWD. pic.twitter.com/5dy7wb4OWE
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 16, 2021
We’ve seen some interesting matchups and results over the past 12 months with zero fans in the building. At home, there’s no piped in noise, the setting more akin to a gym atmosphere with those of us in front of the telly usually hearing every word spoken from a fighter’s corner.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see if the presence of fans does anything for individual fighters this weekend, especially with three titles on the line.
Death & Disability
While Irish fans of any sport are longing to get back to sidelines, stands, even the bend between the upper Davin and Hogan with the pillars, we know we’ll be kept waiting a few months more before we see a full-house indoors or outdoors.
An interesting one of note, however, is in the detail for the UFC’s tickets for UFC 261.
While the record-setting sell-out shifted 15,000 seats and set the bar for the arena’s largest gross gate, the fine print for fans attending the event – per Yahoo – warns fans attending the event of possible “exposure to Covid-19 which could result in “death” or other “permanent damage.”
If you’re curious, you can read the UFC’s full supplemental terms here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpoI4YIlDHI
UFC 261 Fight Card
This weekend has three massive bouts at the top of the show.
The two women’s titles that Amanda Nunes doesn’t hold are up for grabs with flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko stepping out against number one contender Jessica Andrade while the UFC’s first Chinese champion, Zhang Weili defends her strawweight strap against the former holder and top contender Rose Namajunes.
In Saturday’s main event, Kamura Usman (C) and Jorge Masvidal run it back with the welterweight title on the line. New heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is expected to be in the corner of Usman in Florida.
- Kamaru Usman (C) v Jorge Masvidal, UFC Welterweight Championship
- Zhang Weili (C) v Rose Namajunas, UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
- Valentina Shevchenko (C) v Jessica Andrade, UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship
- Uriah Hall v Chris Weidman (185)
- Anthony Smith v Jim Crute (205)
- Alex Oliveira v Randy Brown (170)
- Dwight Grant v Stefan Sekulic (170)
- Karl Roberson v Brendan Allen (185)
- Patrick Sabatini v Tristan Connelly (145)
- Danaa Batgerel v Kevin Natividad (135)
- Kazula Vargas v Ronghzhu (155)
- Aoriqileng v Jeffry Molina (125)
- Liang Na v Ariane Carnelossi (115)
If Usman comes out the better of the rematch, his next title defence looks set to be against Colby Covington later this year.
Should Masvidal emerge the victor, well, there’s nothing like rounding out a trilogy now, is there?
