Top UFC featherweight Brian Ortega has admitted that he is concerned that he will be distracted by the massive LED display at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Ortega will face Diego Lopes at UFC 306 in a bout that was due for UFC 303 before being called off at the last second due to an issue with his health. The Brazilian faced Dan Ige in a last-second rescheduling, winning by decision to set up this clash.
Now, the pair are set to battle again as ‘T-City’ puts his plans to move up to lightweight on hold in one last roll of the dice at featherweight. And given his Mexican heritage, he is excited to be a featured fighter on one of the biggest nights of the year in the country.
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Brian Ortega admits he will be ‘for sure distracted’ by UFC 306 at The Sphere
The spectacle at The Sphere in Las Vegas is expected to be unmatched, with massive money being spent in order to put on a monstrous sporting event for Mexican Independence Day. The venue has been playing host to immersive concerts, and aside from the NHL Draft has yet to host a sporting event.
The attraction of the sphere is a massive LED display that arches over the crowd, making for an experience that engages fans at all levels of the arena. During a recent visit to Las Vegas, Brian Ortega was given the option using a VR headset to see inside the once-off event at its planning stage.
“I went to Vegas, and we did some filming for it.” Ortega said during a recent appearance on Morning Kombat. “They put some VR goggles on us, and we were able to see what the arena would look like on the inside. And bro, it’s crazy. I can’t say too much because I’m not allowed to.
“But, yeah, it’s going to be something where I for sure have to stay locked in and tuned. I have to stay focused, because if you start paying attention at what’s going to go on when the fight happens, I’ll for sure be distracted.
“And I probably will, but probably it’s going to be for a good cause anyways. Once I get punched in the face, I’m going to come back to reality anyways.”
Dana White claims he has pumped $17million into state of the art one-off Noche UFC show
The big money event goes on sale this week, and pre-sales have seen tickets listed for minimums of $2,500. UFC boss Dana White has claimed to have spent over $17million putting together the event, which will be a one-and-done for the promotion.
They have even made an unprecedented deal to sell their naming rights to Riyadh Season, with the event branded Riyadh Season: UFC Noche. This is in part due to the cost, which White admitted last month had tipped well into the eight-figure mark.
A statement on the UFC’s website about the event reads: “Riyadh Season Noche UFC will utilize Sphere’s state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities to deliver a live experience never before witnessed in the history of sports.
“The venue’s next-generation technologies include the world’s highest resolution LED display that wraps up, over and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment.
“The venue also features the world’s most advanced audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest.
UFC 306 pits MMA against boxing as Canelo Alvarez fights on the same night
Perhaps one of the most exciting storylines of the event is that just across the road at the T-Mobile Arena, boxing will be putting one of its biggest stars head-to-head with the UFC. Canelo Alvarez fights Edgar Berlanga, with fans forced to choose between big Mexican Independence Day fights.
“Canelo’s one of those guys that I respect and hey, good on [PBC boss Al] Haymon,” Dana White told ESPN. “Haymon snatched that date right away from me. The guys at MGM have done nothing but f***ing disrespect me and the UFC for 20 years. It is what it is. Here we go.”
A massive chunk of the funding for the event will come from the Riyadh Season advertising deal, which has been brokered by boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh. Asked by ESPN how he plans to compete with PBC and Canelo, the Saudi adviser replied: “We will eat him.”
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