The UFC made it a priority to return to Brazil. Well, the time is here and it looks like the first event since 1998 is paying off in big ways.
Yesterday's workout on Copacabana beach was insane. Anderson Silva got a rock star's greeting. By the looks of these photos from MMAjunkie, the crowd stuck around for most of the fighters who were working out.
There's also now talk of an August return in 2012 where an event may be held outside at a stadium. Initial reports place the mega-card in Manaus where the city's "sambodrome" at the Convention Center can hold upwards of 100,000.
Meanwhile, back here in the U.S. The UFC continues to take steps to creep into the mainstream. The promotion is going to show the preliminary fights on big screens in midtown Manhattan:
UFC 134's bouts will be screened for thousands in Times Square's Little Brazil ? reflective of the fight's base in Rio de Janeiro and the Brazilian birthplace of mixed martial arts. Spike TV's preliminary fights will broadcast on the digital sign above The Doubletree Hotel on the East side of Duffy Square's red steps, 47th Street & 7th Ave Saturday, August 27 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m EST. Never before has UFC offered a viewing of this magnitude.
After celebrating in the streets of Times Square, fans and interested viewers are encouraged to finish watching the fight at neighboring bars in Little Brazil such as Bowlmor Times Square (W 44th between 7th and 8th Aves.).
Dana White also broke the news that UFC fights will be debuting on radio as well. In a conversation with the "Petros and Money Show" on FoxSportsRadio, it was confirmed the fight's broadcast will be simulcast in some form on the network (1:40 mark).
"We're going to put these fights live on the radio, which really hasn't been done since the old days before television when everyone would sit around and listen to the big fights from MSG. We're going to bring that back," said White.
White also spoke at length about the FOX deal and ruffling feathers a bit at ESPN.
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