I Thought My First UFC Event Would Be in Las Vegas!

I have been a UFC fan for a very long time. In fact, I have been following the sport since the days of Anderson Silva vs Vitor Belfort. Silva, the long-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, was my very first favourite fighter. At the time, I knew very little about mixed martial arts, but there was something mesmerising about him. His reflexes seemed almost superhuman, his creativity inside the Octagon was unlike anything I had ever seen, and he carried himself with a calm, quiet confidence that made him appear nearly untouchable.

As I followed the sport more closely, another person drew me in even further: Dana White. I know not everyone agrees with him all the time, but I have always found him fascinating to listen to. He is charismatic, sharp, and incredibly good at telling a story. In my opinion, few people can sell a fight the way Dana White can. Even today, I still enjoy watching his interviews. Whether he is talking about an upcoming event, negotiating with fighters, or sharing his thoughts on business, there always seems to be something interesting to learn from the way he thinks and communicates.

In many ways, Anderson was the first fighter I was a fan of, but Dana White helped me appreciate everything that happens behind the scenes as well.

How I became a Fan of the UFC

Although a huge fan now, I knew absolutely nothing about the sport of MMA until I was commissioned to photograph a mixed martial arts event organised by Legend Fighting Championship in Macau. As the event photographer, I naturally had a ringside seat. It was the perfect vantage point to witness the action up close, to hear every strike land and to feel the energy of the crowd.

As part of the assignment, I also photographed portraits of the fighters. What struck me most was not their toughness, but their attitude. These were people who genuinely loved fighting. They weren't being forced into it. They were not afraid to get hit, kicked and punched. They weren't simply enduring it. They enjoyed it. To them, stepping into the cage was exciting, challenging and, perhaps most surprisingly, fun.

To put it simply, I was hooked. I had arrived as a photographer, but left as a fan.

That event sparked my interest in mixed martial arts, and I began reading everything I could find about the sport. Naturally, the UFC appeared in many of my searches and before long, I was a dedicated UFC fan.

For years, I watched UFC events from home and followed the careers of countless fighters. I often imagined what it would be like to sit in the arena, feel the atmosphere, and witness the action unfold right in front of me. I had even told my wife that one day, when we found the time, we should make the long trip to Las Vegas and attend a UFC event together.

As it turned out, we didn't have to travel halfway around the world.

This weekend, the UFC came to us, and my chance to attend my first live UFC event had finally arrived.

Three months ago, when the UFC announced it would be coming to Macau, I was thrilled. This was my chance to experience the atmosphere firsthand rather than through a television screen.

Unfortunately though, when I tried to purchase tickets for the main event, they were completely sold out.

I was disappointed, but I accepted it. Sometimes that's just how things go.

What I didn't know was that my wife and daughter had been paying attention.

Knowing how much I love the UFC, they secretly bought me a ticket to Road to the UFC, the supporting event held over two days before the main card. Tickets were still available, and they thought it would be the perfect surprise.

And what a surprise it was.

My wife and daughter have little interest in mixed martial arts and probably couldn't tell you the difference between a title contender and a champion. Yet they knew how much the UFC meant to me. So, in secret, they bought me a ticket as a gift. To me, that made the surprise even more special.

No, it isn't the headline UFC event that I had originally hoped to attend. But honestly, that doesn't matter.

What matters is that after all these years of watching the UFC, after countless late nights spent following fights and fighters, I will finally be attending my very first live UFC event.

There is something special about being there in person. The walkouts. The atmosphere. The tension before the opening bell. The roar of the crowd. These are things that simply cannot be fully captured through a television screen.

So while many fans will be focused on the stars competing on the main card, I will be sitting in the audience at Road to UFC with a smile on my face, grateful for the experience and grateful for the two people who made it possible.

Thanks to my wife and daughter, I am now entering the arena of my first UFC event....

Click here to read all about my first Live UFC event experience.

UFC President Dana White

Galaxy Arena