Las Vegas is world renowned as an amalgamation of gambling, sporting events, and an exciting city-wide atmosphere that never rests. On Friday November 15, the city will host a poker tournament played by some of the biggest stars in the UFC, who will honour the mixed martial arts promotion company’s 20 year anniversary.
The UFC routinely hosts live fight nights from Las Vegas, and many fans would argue that the city is the unofficial capital of the league. The next major event, UFC 167 will be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday November 16. Canadian Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre will attempt to defend his title against contender Johny Hendricks in the main event of the evening.
But before the fists start flying in the octagon, UFC veterans will convene at the Red Rock Casino Resort on the west end of the city for the Hall of Fame Poker Game. Fans can watch the game inside the Red Rock casino, but must do so from the sportsbook room.
While poker fans undoubtedly love any good poker match, UFC fans will be able to cheer on some of the living legends of the sport at the game. Hall of Fame fighters, including Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Forrest Griffin, and Royce Gracie – one of the two first fighters ever named to the UFC Hall of Fame with Ken Shamrock, will be going all-in against each other in a poker match worthy of former champions of the octagon.
Faces of the past will also face off against veterans still a part of the league. Promoters announced that Bruce Buffer, the longtime UFC announcer and voice of the octagon, will also ante up for the event before heading to the Grand Garden Arena to call the fight on Saturday.
The poker tournament falls nearly 20 years to the date when the UFC hosted its first live event on November 12, 1993. The event was broadcast from the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver Colorado, where Royce Gracie became the first UFC winner via submission of Gerard Gordeau.