10 Things You Can Only Experience At A UFC Live Event

7. The Lack Of Appreciation For The Ground Game

When you hear a "stand them up" chant during a ground sequence that has a fighter actively trying to improve position and finish a fight, you just have to shake your head.

One of the drawbacks of UFC events live is the lack of a commentary team for some of the less knowledgeable fans. If you don't know the difference between a kimura and a knee bar, the ground game can get confusing fast. That's where analysts like Jimmy Smith and Joe Rogan are able to shine, walking fans through exactly what they're seeing on the ground.

Live, like any other sport, you lack that play-by-play. Which leads fans who don't understand ground fighting to boo every time a fight hits the canvas.

Right up to the point someone taps out, when the entire arena will inevitably erupt in applause.

Yet that submission took an incredible amount of work to set up, something fans all too often forget, or simply do not comprehend. Taking in a live event? Try to tune this out. There are video screens all around the venue that will give you a close-up of the action if you can't follow along, and no one will blame you for turning an eye to those.

Contributor
Contributor

Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.