Star-studded UFC 326 in Las Vegas shows the combat sport is new place to be for celebrities
For decades, Lakers games were the premier place to be seen for the powerbroker set. But an Octagon ringside seat is quickly becoming the new NBA courtside perch.
Saturday night’s UFC 326 match in Las Vegas drew a who’s-who from the town and beyond including Tom Brady, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Rubin, Mario Lopez, Shannon Sharpe and Ari Emanuel, while Mark Zuckerberg and Dana White threw back Cuervo shots at the same VIP front table. Among the execs at T-Mobile Arena was Paramount’s Direct to Consumer chair Cindy Holland, who took in all the flying fists before jetting to New York for the premiere of Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western “The Madison.”
It was all about leveraging the Paramount-UFC synergy potential with “Survivor” host Jeff Probst bringing along Season 50 favorite Boston Rob as his plus one. And White announced the fight card for the upcoming White House lawn event in July, which will stream on, you guessed it, Paramount+.
The turnout proved to be a fitting follow-up to UFC 324 in January, the first numbered event for Paramount in its $7.7 billion deal with the UFC. David Ellison and Mark Shapiro were very visible at that Sin City bout along with Luke Grimes, Miles Teller, Morris Chestnut, Anthony Kiedis, Chris Rock, Jared Leto and high-wattage couple Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker. (UFC 325 was in Australia.)
Saturday’s fight marked a repeat trek to Sin City for Emanuel, who cheered as Charles Oliveira defeated Max Holloway by unanimous decision. WME client Joe Rogan called the action. “Last night was incredible,” one industryite on the scene told Page Six Hollywood. “Everyone was dancing at one point.” It was all so intoxicating that even Kid Rock, who famously boycotted Bud Light for being too woke, was downing the beer which was an official sponsor.
