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06-03-2010, 01:30 PM #1
Another UFC Expo Experience
I know I'm a little late to post, but just wanted to add my thoughts on the UFC Fan Expo this past weekend. All I can say is, if you are an MMA fan, you HAVE to go to one of these expos. The lines are crazy long and the crowds are insane, but it was all worth it to meet the fighters and get photos & autographs. If you are on the East Coast, I would highly recommend going to the Boston expo--it will probably be a lot less crowded that the Vegas one. I met a lot of people from the eastern US at the expo that had already booked their trip to Vegas before the Boston expo was announced.
My advice if you do go to Boston (or Vegas next year) is to get there early and have at least 2-3 people in your group. I got there on Friday at about 8:30am and got my wristband with no waiting, then got in line for the expo (doors opened at 10). I later heard from people that the line just to get your wristband was over an hour! Also, if you have a few people in your group, someone can save your place in line so can can cover more ground. All in all, I think I met over 30 fighters, but I'll just post my highlights as there are already some great threads that covered the expo.
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06-03-2010, 01:32 PM #2
Glad ya had a great time!
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06-03-2010, 01:37 PM #3
Once the doors opened at 10am, I headed straight back to the official UFC autograph sessions. I had my list of who I wanted to meet, and Forrest Griffin was at the top. I will say that I was a little disappointed in the official UFC autograph sessions because they wouldn't let you give the fighters any items to sign. They were only signing the UFC promo 8x10s and it was difficult to get pics with the fighters. (You can tell by my pic with Forrest, he wasn't even looking at the camera, and I got pushed away by security before I could get a 2nd pic.) It was much better at the booth signings as they weren't as rushed and the fighters would sign anything and pose for a pic with you. So this was the only official UFC autograph line I waited in.
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06-03-2010, 01:42 PM #4
The next guy on my list was Tito Ortiz. I know there are a lot of Tito haters out there, but my experience with him was great. He was at the expo both days and signed for 3-4 hours each day. He is still really popular with the fans as his line was one of the longest of anyone at the expo. He signed both a glove and an 8x10 for me and we talked for a minute about how his surgery went (good according to him) and when he will fight next (looking at the fall). Meeting Tito was probably the highlight of the expo for me, and the fact that he was such a nice guy made it even better.
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06-03-2010, 01:46 PM #5
One of the funniest moments of the expo involved Miguel Torres. He had a barber chair setup and was giving free mullet haircuts to anyone willing to get into the chair. Former UFC fighter Jake Rosholt was one of his victims, so I got a pic to the mullet in progress.
I also managed to get a pic with Torres once his barber duties were over. Dude is just a character and definitely the funniest guy I met at the expo.
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06-03-2010, 01:49 PM #6
How long was your wait to meet Tito?
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06-03-2010, 01:50 PM #7
Stubhub had a signing with Shane Carwin scheduled for 11am on Day 2, so as soon as the doors opened on Saturday I headed straight to their booth. Carwin showed up right on time and signed a glove for me. All I can say is that the dude is HUGE! Of all the fighters I met at the expo, he was easily the biggest. He also has massive fists, and I would hate to be on the receiving end of them!
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06-03-2010, 01:53 PM #8
I got in the Tito line at 11:30 and he showed up and started signed at around 12:30. By the time I got to him, I think it was around 2pm, so the wait was about 2.5 hours. My buddy and I took turns holding our spot in line, so I was able to wander around a bit and meet some other fighters during the wait. Tito's line each day was easily one of the longest for any fighter at the expo.
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06-03-2010, 01:55 PM #9
Yeah I waited around 2-3 hours for him as well. Only problem was I went to the expo alone that day...
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06-03-2010, 01:58 PM #10
no way, GSP's was the worst. Not that I care for him. At the official signings, I was able to get other things signed. I befriended one of the security guys there. I did notice the volunteer guys in the blue were a pain.
Miguel was awesome. I have a video of him giving Filthy Tom Lawlor "the upgrade". Definitely one of my favorites before the expo and even more after meeting him.
Next Vegas expo we need to get a group together. Make life so much easier for lines.
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Originally Posted by daparham 
