There is plenty to do in the days before UFC 111 at the Prudential Center in Newark.
The sold-out event takes place Saturday, March 27. If you're not one of the ones fortunate enough to purchase -- or afford -- tickets to the showcase, there are related events around the New York metropolitan area to let you get into the action.
For UFC events that take place on a Saturday, like this one, most displaced fighters are in town by Tuesday. Be on the lookout for sponsored events and appearances by fighters arriving early or promotions featuring those athletes who are attending as part of the support network for their teammates or the organization.
On Wednesday, March 24 at Radio City Music Hall in New York (1260 Avenue of the Americas), the UFC 111 pre-fight press conference is free and open to the public. Doors open at 2 p.m. but the conference with headliners Georges St-Pierre and Dan Hardy, and Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, does not get under way until 3:00. There is a Q and A session between 3:30 and 4:30.
On Thursday the 25th there will be open workouts at Peak Performance Strength and Conditioning Center (54 West 21st St.). Hardy and Mir will be in the 12:30-1:30 session with St-Pierre and Carwin to follow.
Friday's action moves to the Prudential Center, where there will be an autograph session with Cain Velasquez, Stephan Bonner and New Jersey's Nick Catone from 1:00-3:00. Between 2:00 and 3:00 UFC Fight Club members get an exclusive Q and A with Long Islander Matt Serra, the former welterweight champion and the last fighter to defeat St-Pierre.
At 3 p.m. the doors open for the weigh-in, but fighters are not on the scales until 4:00. The UFC allows for the event to last until 5:00, but the weigh-ins usually are done earlier. UFC President Dana White has his satellite television tour starting at 5 p.m.
The doors open fight night at 6:45, with the first bout slated for 7:15. For viewers, the preliminary Spike TV bouts will run for an hour starting at 9 p.m., leading directly into the pay-per-view show.
There is a showing of the Spike TV and pay-per-view portion of UFC 111 available for $25 at Radio City.
Comments
leave NJ for a work event beginning on Weds. bummer.
This is great. No one ever has this much info on these events.
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