UFC Fan Expo Amazement! Billy Meets Cain Velasquez! Rashad Evans! Anthony Pettis! Octagon Girls! And More!

Billy Beers Barstool July 9, 2014 Billy Beer's Barstool, Fanboying!, Sports No Comments

Welcome back to Billy Beer(ed)’s Barstool (Yup the beard is still
there flowing ever so long). Well, it’s the 4th of July weekend. All
the celebrities are off on their big boats enjoying the sun with
beautiful people. I on the other hand am off to Vegas for the 2014
UFC Fan Expo!!!! What is more American than guys beating each other
up and amazingly beautiful women. I know, Right?! Well off to Vegas
for a fun filled adventure with my boys Ed, Anthony, and Nick.

Because of the holiday, we weren’t able to leave till midnight Friday
night. We finally arrive at 4am not knowing what to really expect.
This was our first time doing this, so we went straight to the event.
When we arrived, there were only 3 other people. Hmmm, maybe a
little early, but since we didn’t have a hotel yet, we just hung out.
They had a VIP line too, which got you in an hour earlier and some
exclusive autograph opportunities. We just had the regular tickets
which was fine with me. Enough small talk, let’s get to the event.

When we get in there, we run straight to the GSP (Georges St. Pierre)
line. OMG! The line was already huge. We put our stuff down and wait.
While we’re waiting, One of the Champs Johny Hendricks walks by us.
Fans start running over to him. I held the spots while Ed was nice
enough to get all 4 of my items I had for him signed. What a start to
the day. It’s been about 40 minutes, and we still haven’t moved.
They have a VIP line for people who spend over $100 at their booth.
This is holding up the other line cause so many people have done it.
I decide to head over to the Octagon Girl’s booth. There Camila De
Oliveira and Chrissy Blair were signing. Both girls were extremely
nice and signed both my picture and a picture they had for fans
without pictures. They also had people for each girl to help with
taking pictures. A couple of the many things that put this Fan Expo
leaps and bounds above other fan expos I’ve attended (you could learn
something from these guys WWE!).

When I’m done, the guys tell me they’re getting out of the GSP line.
It wasn’t going anywhere. Either was I, cause they were bringing in 2
new Octagon Girls 🙂 Arianny Celeste and Carly Baker. Arianny is
probably the most recognizable Octagon Girl there is. I had an 11×14
for her I was hoping to get signed, and if I was lucky enough, have
her kiss too. I thought there would be no chance, but it doesn’t hurt
to ask. If she does it, it’s going to look amazing hanging on my
wall. Again, the girls were nice, Arianny really seemed to like her
phone, but she was running her own booth too, so I’m sure people were
hitting her up left and right. When I got up there, she took a
picture and signed my photo and cards I had for her. When I ask if
she could kiss the photo for me, she was super cool about it.
SUCCESS!!! That just made my day. When I get up to Carly, we do the
same thing. Why not go for broke. She too kisses the picture for
me. WOW!! Why didn’t I think of this a long time ago!

While I was waiting in line, I notice Rashad Evan at the video game
booth. He went to MSU, and I brought my MSU jersey to try and get a
photo-op with him. After I’m done with the ladies, I put my jersey on
and wait. I know he had to be at another signing soon. When he comes
down, I walk over to him, but they are kinda rushing him. He did sign
one of my pictures which was cool of him. He was one of the main guys
I wanted to get this weekend. Still have to work on that photo-op
though.

I meet up with the boys who are in line for another Champ, Anthony
Pettis. For those of you who don’t know who he is, I’m sure you’ve
seen probably one of the sickest highlights EVER of him running up the
side of the cage to kick his opponent in the head. Unfortunately, he
leaves about 15 people before we’re up.

With the help of Ed (again) I followed the sponsor on Twitter and got
to do a meet and greet with the next fighter former Champ (only due to
injury did he lose the belt) Dominick Cruz. He showed up a little
late, but made up for it by not rushing through the thing. He sat
talked to us, signed whatever we had and commented about them. I got
a picture and 4 other cards signed. This was followed by pictures.
Since I HATE the fist up pose, I asked if we could take a picture
thumb wrestling. He was totally down with it, and even got into it a
bit.

When I’m done, I’m told that Pettis is signing at another booth and
the line is short. Well when I get there, it is, but he also doesn’t
have much time left there. They inform me that the line is cut off,
but if I want to still wait, that’s fine. Then they say they are only
doing a photo or a graph. This is the fine since they want to get as
many people through as possible. Luckily, the line moves fast and I
get my picture signed, and he’s even nice enough to sign two cards for
me.

So while Anthony and Nick go for Cain Velasquez, Ed and I go back to
the ladies. This time Kahili Blundell (Australian Octagon Girl) and
Jhenny Andrade (Brazilian Octagon Girl) were signing. Now a friend of
mine had told me about Kahili, but OMG!!!! If you meet this beautiful
lady and don’t walk away with a huge crush on her, then something is
wrong with you!!! She signed my photos, gave me another photo, and
posed for a picture that I’ve probably gone back and looked at a
million times. I didn’t want to leave, but Jhenny was waiting for
me. Seriously, it’s like I’m in heaven and I’m running through a
gauntlet of angels! Jhenny is the cutest little thing signing for me
and also taking a picture.

I don’t want to leave, but we head over to meet with The other boys.
Then all of a sudden, they want to interview Ed. This is amazing in
itself cause he just met two beautiful ladies, and now he has to speak
into the camera. Well, lets just say he told them he met Johny
Henderson, and couldn’t remember Jhenny’s name cause he was so nervous.

When we get to the other guys, they are still in line for Cain. We
jump in there with them and wait. Cain is the Heavyweight Champion.
Here’s another reason I love this Expo. We are meeting the best
fighters out there. None of them are “too good” to sign for there
fans. Cain is at booths signing AND taking pictures from 10-5 with
only a 30 minute break. Show me a boxer that does that, actually show
me any athlete at the top of their league that does that! Much
respect! When we get up there, he’s very chill. He signed a picture
and 2 other cards for me, AND took a picture.

Next we head over to the Showgun Rua line. Honestly, this was
probably the longest we waited in line for someone, like an hour. But
this guy is a legend that is still fighting top notch opponents at a
high level. The wait was worth it. Even though the guy was trying to
push people through with only a picture or graph, it was only going to
deaf ears. Showgun signed both my cards, a promotional picture, and
still took a fun picture with me. Class act!

The day is starting to come to an end, but we decide to try for two
more legends Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell. We make it just in time.
They are trying to get them out of there, but these guys just keep
signing making their fans happy. I get both fighters on pictures and
cards. and attempt a selfy with Matt. Probably a flop, but oh well.

The day is done. Time to go watch the fights and have a much needed
beer!!! WAIT A MINUTE!!!!! While walking to the car we see Ian
McCall walking to the fight. I run to him and ask him to sign a
couple of cards for me. The whole time, he’s asking us how things are
going, are we having fun. SERIOUSLY! Dude couldn’t have been nicer.
He’s on his way to the fight, and stops and has a conversation with
us. I already liked him cause of the stash, but he just moved up
higher on my list!