Blood On The Mat 11.05.09: A Summary Of The UFC Summit (From Someone Who Wasn’t There)
Posted by on 11.05.2009
Every fighter under Zuffa contract was at the UFC Summit earlier this week. 411’s Adam Tool followed the events on Twitter, and he’s gathered together accounts and photos from the event for a look at how (he thinks) things went down…
Welcome back to Blood On The Mat. My name is Adam Tool and I'm sad to say that this is, in fact, the final column I will be writing here at 411mania. After today you can catch me as a regular contributor at Fiveouncesofpain.com. It wasn't an easy decision to move on but it's the one I've made, for better or for worse.
Before we get into things I'll take one moment to give a special thanks to Ashish and Larry Csonka for giving me the chance to write about this sport I love so much. Larry has always been a big support during the 20 months I've been here, and I wish everyone at 411mania nothing but the best of luck after the site collapses into anarchy from my departure.
If you're into Twitter (as I am) and you follow a bunch of fighters than you've undoubtedly heard that every fighter under Zuffa contract was in Las Vegas this week for a special summit. The fighters went to various seminars, with topics ranging from Twitter & marketing, to steroid use, to working under contract and dealing with sponsors.
Since Twitter was a hot topic (with Daddy Dana apparently leading the charge) a number of fighters spent the days tweeting and posting pictures from the event. I've rounded up some of the best pictures for you, so let's do this thing.
Hey look! It‘s the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner in the UFC's welterweight division, standing right there next to Matt Serra!
Wait, is that Ben Rothwell sneaking up in the background?
Things were cordial at the breakfast buffet, until Swick started talking about how Machida deserved to win
Mir campaigns for a rubber match with Brock Lesnar while UFC matchmaker Joe Silva looks on in disgust
Of course, it wasn't all photo ops and handshakes, and the fighters were there to learn stuff. Several speakers got up and talked about the various issues facing guys who beat up other guys professionally.
"The UFC will work for you, as long as you work for them. I'm talking about honoring your contract with the company. Try to follow the examples set by UFC champions like Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Quinton Ramp…y'know let's just move on."
Gabriel Gonzaga gives us a glimpse into his note taking process.
Not every fighter could give the summit their full, undivided attention. "Ultimate Fighter" 5 veteran (and apparent ADD sufferer) Joe Lauzon nearly killed his iPhone by going on an insane tweet-spree, answering multiple questions about his next fight (Sam Stout at UFC 108), his knee (feeling fine), Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare (he's a fan), it's upcoming sequel (he can‘t wait), and anything else the teeming masses threw his way.
Joe did take a break to update people on the summit itself, including the seminar on steroid use. According to Lauzon, during the introduction they showed a picture of Carrot Top, followed by an appearance from the DEA, and then they showed a list of professional wrestlers. Then they showed this guy:
LOOKING GOOD, BRO!
Yes. Steroids are bad. Moving on.
It wasn't just the UFC fighters at the summit either, as members of the WEC roster were on hand as well. Current WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner got a little starstruck at the event when he saw Forrest Griffin sitting not far away.
I haven‘t seen the back of that head since he was running out of the cage a few months ago
Varner stops by the kids' table to get a photo with a lucky fan
Everyone who‘s still relevant in their weight class give a big thumbs up!
Hey look! It‘s the second best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner in
the UFC's welterweight division, standing right there next to Matt Serra!
Once the summit had wrapped up all the fighters were treated to steak dinners courtesy of Zuffa. Dana White turned into quite a little shutter-bug, grabbing a bunch of photos of his boys eating.
Pictured: Lil‘ Nog, Big Nog Not Pictured: Strangely Disproportionate Nog
Shogun decides to get the rubber match out of the way before dessert
Varner shows his true colors by sneaking up on a deaf guy
A peak at the specially reserved table for fighters who got KTFO in their last fight
Images courtesy of Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta, Gabriel Gonzaga, Frank Edgar, Joe Lauzon, Nate Diaz, Jamie Varner, and Mike Swick. Thanks guys! Checks are in the mail.
What did we learn from the UFC Summit?
Twitter is good, drugs are bad.
Steak is also good.
The end.
Feedback is welcome at the e-mail address below, or feel free to use the comment box provided. Look for me to make my debut at Fiveouncesofpain.com in the coming days, and as always you can follow me on Twitter.
Thanks so much for reading, you guys are beyond awesome.
