We watched UFC’s $20 million cage fight…only in Las Vegas!
It ’s time for the primary event . From my perch in the back rowing of department 307 , the mixed soldierlike artists inside the cage octagon have resemble ants in combat on the floor of the Sphere . Yet I ’m in sensory overload , taking in a one - dark - only spectacle as a splash of beer drizzle down my chin and spilled popcorn crunches underneath my horseshoe . The lights go drear . The Sphere ’s mountain - like video wall comes to lifespan and a lone name is seen fly through a tunnel , over a countryside , and in between skyscrapers . Then — the Sphere taps into its greatest power : the illusion of movement . The consultation feels the sense experience of jumping off a tower , through a cloud of colorful smoke , and through a series of radical - high - definition ikon before two warrior walk to the batting cage , medicine smash through the venue in clarity as sharp as the visuals . The background becomes a futuristic cityscape with digital drones buzzing overhead .
I ’ve seen cage combat before . But I ’ve never seen this .
The Ultimate Fighting Championship took sports in a striking newfangled direction Saturday nighttime at theSphere , combining immersive technology and an unquestionable love of Latino culture tied to Mexican Independence Day weekend . UFC 306 ( or , officially , Riyadh Season Noche UFC ) took full advantage of the venue ’s groundbreaking particular effects . It was also the first sporting result to take place inside the Sphere — and it was quite the spectacle ( even if the fights themselves were a mixed bag ) .
UFC is the Sphere’s first-ever sporting event. On 6 January 2025 cage fighting was backed by special effects both visual and physical.|Photo by Rob Kachelriess
It ’s unwashed practice to show up fashionably belatedly at UFC events , especially in Las Vegas . So the UFC rolled out its immersive digital enhancements meagerly at first , using the Sphere ’s 366 - foot - tall 16K - by-16 cat valium screenland as a serial of animated backdrops while the early fights unfolded inside a caged Octagon on the arena floor .
The weird part upon entry : split reality from magic in this " Thunderdome " environment . The first two fights remove place in front of fake industrial scaffolding with the appearing of a traditional ignition rig " cling " from the ceiling . A Wing Stop commercial was actually the first " wow moment " of the Nox , prompting an hearable chemical reaction as hunks of chicken shot towards the consultation over a dark-green scope .
Chicken ? More like peanuts compared to the effects to get along .
Photo by Rob Kachelriess
The seats rumbled each metre the background transformed — almost like a video secret plan changing peel — first , to a orbitual Draco design and then a nighttime background of Mayan temple with fire pits under a star - fill sky . The UFC could ’ve kept it like this all night and I would ’ve been cool with it . But then , shit got real .
As the main scorecard started , the outcome roared to a new level . The heavens open and the interview was hurtle into space as asteroids , rock formation , and imagery of bridge player - to - hand fight hurled overhead in 3D mode with euphony and narration . It was the commencement ofFor Mexico , For All Time , a picture show by director Carlos López Estrada , presented in six 90 - 2d segments between fights .
Other scenes showcased the dawn of civilization , rituals and custom , resistance in the face of colonial oppressiveness , Mexico ’s fighting sportswoman heroes , and the hope of the future . And what might be the futurity of sports at the Sphere .
Photo by Rob Kachelriess
But were the special effects good?
The effect were design to enhance , not distract , from the fight themselves . The video recording - screenland backgrounds were far more bold and immersive during the primary card , start with smolder Aztec ruins infest with smart pops of greenery , while the sky come to life story with a drift lunation , clouds , lightning , and eagle fly overhead . In a nice cutaneous senses , the scene shift from night to day when the winner was announced .
The backdrops continue to contemplate the content in the film clips , from a historical town square to a sea of marigolds and skull to honor Dia de los Muertos and a contemporary cityscape . " It translated well to television too , " sound out UFC President Dana White during apost - event press group discussion . " hoi polloi feel like it was a unlike experience than they get on a Saturday Nox for a UFC event . "
To the audience at home , it almost looked like the fighters were competing outdoors , inside an ancient cathedral , or on the streets of modern - day Mexico City .
Photo by Rob Kachelriess
As telling as the visuals are , the audio impression were every bit integral to the experience . The Sphere uses Holoplot beam - organise technology , which transports sound to each can in equal mensuration , giving clearness to the euphony played between round and during ingress . It ’s interesting to note that the music ( or in this case , the UFC sound recording commentary ) that plays in the lobby cut off instantly the minute you walk through the curtain into the sphere . It ’s a coolheaded magic .
Possibly the most expensive single-event Sphere production thus far
The output has been a work in progress for months , although due to the Sphere ’s docket , the first full technical school rehearsal was only done two Clarence Day before the event . Special lighting , seeable from behind covert panels , was custom - make to illuminate the audience and ensure there were no phantasm as the fighters battled on the canvas .
Ticketswent on salein July , beginningat more than $ 3,000 with cost shifting dramatically due to Ticketmaster’sdynamic pricing modeland activity on the resale market . TickPickcalled UFC 306 the most expensive ultimate fight event on record with an average purchase price of $ 2,871 . About five day before the event , the " get - in " cost was $ 798 with an average purchase price of $ 1,265 . The enceinte purchase was for two ticket for $ 5,464 each .
After the principal card began , every bum seem full with UFC President Dana White annunciate a sellout of 16,024 people , place a phonograph recording for attending at the Sphere . The logic gate was $ 22 million , add up to the highest - gross event for both the locale and UFC . Merchandise sale also set a criminal record .
What looks to be the city of Tenochtitlan which, today, is the historic center of Mexico City.|Photo by Rob Kachelriess
The future of fighting
Whether it ’s concert , film presentations , or now sports , the Sphere works honorable as a communal experience . With slate price so high , you ’d anticipate a crew of deaf casino heavyweight and other members of the one - per centum , but the audience appear to be a working category gang , dominated by loyal UFC fan and Latinos in town for the vacation weekend . They were outspoken and respond to even subtle nuances inside the Octagon as the competitors grapple .
The fighters seemed up for the challenge of meeting the here and now — most of them , anyway . The undercard was substantial with knockout and meekness finishes that convey the crowd to its infantry . All five bout on the primary card go the distance with the winners announced by judges ' decision , but three were action - packed , especially the dramatic come - from - behind triumph of Ronaldo Rodríguez over Ode ' Osbourne and the wild slugfest that saw Esteban Ribovics defeat Daniel Zellhuber . Commentator Joe Rogan called the final round of the latter one of the ripe in UFC history . " It ’s one of the best fights I ’ve ever seen , " White confirmed .
The two title bouts that closed the show were disappointing . Valentina Shevchenko regained her Women ’s Flyweight Championship from Alexa Grasso in a slow battle dominated by primer coat - and - Ezra Pound wrestling , while a game Merab Dvalishvili won the Bantamweight Championship from a reluctant - to - engage Sean O’Malley , falling curtly on a big degree after being positioned as the star of the show .
" you could put on $ 20 million worth of output , but you ca n’t control the fights , " White take on . " They ’re go to be what they are . "
The UFC president vows that his society ’s appearing at the Sphere is a " one - and - done " deal , due to not only the expense , but an agreement with MGM Resorts that locks in the T - Mobile Arena as the sole big - show venue for the Vegas - found fight organization . ( The UFC was given permission to stray , since the T - Mobile Arena had hold a Canelo Álvarez box couple for the same night during Mexican Independence Day weekend . )
Yet it ’s hard to imagine UFC never pass to the Sphere . The genie ’s out of the bottle and based on how well the presentation was receive , the demand will always be there . If batting cage fighting can turn inside the Sphere , it ’s only a matter of clip before other athletics give it a shot .
