In past years, the UFC held open workouts during International Fight Week at exclusive clubs and drew overflow crowds that poured out of the building.
The conditions went from cramped to cavernous this year, as the UFC’s annual July event kicked off Wednesday afternoon at Park Theater at Monte Carlo. The 5,200-capacity venue was less than a tenth full as the six headliners from this week’s two cards, Friday’s “The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption” finale and Saturday’s UFC 213, publicly went through part of their training routines.
They didn’t seem to mind, as most of them were particularly spirited at an appearance where fighters aren’t always fully engaged.