UFC returned to St. Louis, and so did my event journey By Zain Bando
I have been a UFC fan for nearly 20 years and have covered MMA for almost four years. I’ve seen at least 132 live fights featuring the biggest names in the sport, including Conor McGregor’s horrific leg injury at UFC 264. This isn't just a hobby or a job for me; it's a passion, a love affair with the sport I want to share with you.
But I am not writing this for clout, clicks, or a minor dopamine hit. I’m writing this for the person who has yet to see a live fight; regardless of promotion, going to one live event is one of the best financial or work-related investments you will ever make.
As I mentioned on Instagram Sunday night, there is nothing, and I mean nothing, like a live UFC event. It's a unique spectacle, a one-of-a-kind experience that stands out even among the best live event experiences in any sport. It's an exclusive club, and once you're in, you'll never want to leave.
Without further redo, here are my event rankings, which date back to October 2008. I will do my best to update this as I continue to explore new events and venues worldwide.
Ranking Live UFC Event Experiences (Best to Worst);
1. UFC 264 – Seeing Conor McGregor live is an experience unlike any other.
2. UFC 90 – This was my first live event, and there was no such thing as watching preliminary fights on TV.
3. UFC 238 – Henry Cejudo didn’t bend the knee.
4. UFC 218 – Max Holloway is one of the most underrated fighters ever and deserves more respect.
5. UFC 225 – This card featured one of the best middleweight title fights ever.
6. UFC STL – A decent card, but not super top-heavy.
7. UFC 119 – A terrible card. It’s one I’d rather forget.
8. UFC on FOX: Barão vs. Dillashaw 2 – I don’t remember any of it.
9. UFC on FOX: Johnson vs. Dodson 1 – I didn’t get home until super late.
10. UFC on FOX: Henderson vs. Thomson – It should not have been on free TV.
11. UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis – I couldn’t tell you who fought on the card outside of the main event.
** I attended the Holly Holm vs. Valentina Shevchenko weigh-in in 2016, but not the event itself, so I omitted it from the list.
So, I attended every event in Illinois for the UFC except for one. More importantly, I attended the biggest UFC event in the last six years and one of the worst in the previous 15 years. Not everyone can say that, but if this reflection taught me anything, it’s that every Saturday, you may hit a home run, and other weekends, it may be a total bust. But that’s the life of an MMA enthusiast.