Ever Met a Fighter?

[Fizzy]

Let us know! Doesn't have to be an MMA fighter, it could be a boxer, K-1 fighter, high level grappler, or anybody that you would consider a semi well known fighter. Also, post the story about how you found them, and whether or not it was an enjoyable experience. Wouldn't want anybody to receive an infraction over this.

As for me, I have met Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie, and Frankie Edgar at their BJJ school in Jersey. Surprisingly, they were the only fighters I have ever met. I'm looking to go to an event soon which I will thoroughly search the surrounding areas for any fighters or associate's. My dream is obviously to meet Randy Couture and it will happen damnit. So let me know if you've met anybody and whether it was enjoyable or not!

 

[JWGunslinger]

I've been fortunate enough to meet quite a few, at the UFC 123 presser I stood about 20 feet from Dana White,Brock Lesnar,Cain Velasquez,Tito Ortiz,Matt Hamill,Martin Kampmann and Jake Sheilds.

Pat Barry and Brendan Schaub sat a row to my left, they were cracking jokes the whole conference Got to meet Martin Kampmann,Matt Hamill and Mike Pyle. Kampmann and Hamill were nice but were a bit rushed since everyone was swarming them and they left soon after the presser ended. Pyle was the coolest fighter i've ever met, first off he was just walking through the press/public seating and nobody even noticed him, but being a huge fan I went over and asked if he had time for a picture. I assumed he'd want to do the picture and run like every other famous person i'd met but he was super chill, he asked me about myself and where I was from. We got to have a full conversation, I told him I loved his last fight(this was just awhile after his win at UFC 120) and he was thanked me and said he appriciated the support. Coolest guy ever, here's me with him(horrible pic of me tho)

A week before that I saw on MMA Photographer Tracy Lee's facebook that the EA MMA video game opener was going on at Universal Studios and that Fedor and Randy Couture were there. I hopped in my car as fast as I could, skipped class and drove an hour to the city walk at Universal Studios.I got there and right as I got there Randy was finishing up an interview with Fight! magazine(Fedor had already left), while he was busy I met Frank Shamrock and Bas Rutten(Bas was cool, Frank was kinda douchy). Right as he was on his way out I got his autograph, nice guy but he was in a hurry so nothing more than a hey,thank you,goodbye. I snapped a pic with my phone of him posing with somebody, Kim Couture is the blonde with her back to the camera.

Anthony Johnson trains at the UFC gym in Concord(about 10 min from where I live) and I got to meet him when I was meeting my buddy who goes there. Got his autograph, he was nice but kind of quiet.

Last but not...ehh no it is least, I met James McSweeney at a frickin costco of all places, he was signing autographs and I figured since nobody seemed to know who he was and I was there already i'd get his sig. Pretty nice guy.

So that's what I have so far, hope to have more soon when I finally make my way to a UFC event

 

[RyanAn]

Robbie Lawler came to a local amateur MMA event and signed autographs for free. Had a ton of high gloss 8x10's he signed for free.

 

[That Other Guy]

I met Ryan Bader at a bar in Daytona. Nice guy. Unfortunately, I had been there a while, so I may have come across as the blathering idiot that seems to occupy every bar ever. Either way, he was polite and humble.

 

[JWGunslinger]

Also Gil Castillo showed up at McCoveys when me and my buddies were watching UFC 112, he made a big deal about how he fought Matt Hughes. To the people who don't know much about old UFC cards that sounded cool, but all I could think of was how out of his 3 fights in the UFC he won 1 of them against a nobody, and the other 2 he got crushed by Middleweight champ Dave Menne and pulverized by Welterweight Champ Hughes. Nice guy tho

 

[PowerBong]

I've met a lot of fighters. In Japan I met Wes Sims, Kevin Randleman, and Mark Coleman when I was stationed in Okinawa. Here in the states I have had the opportunity to train with a few guys from the Cesar Gracie Fight Team and met the Diaz bros, and some other guys. I went to Strikeforce Challengers in Stockton in April and met a bunch of guys like Pat Milietch, Mauro Ranallo, Steven Quadros and a ton of others.

I will post pics from my facebook when I'm not being so lazy, since the Fedor vs Hendo card is about to start.

 

[vthokie8]

I met Brock at a car dealership when I was stationed in Minot, ND. I met Chuck Liddell and Dana White while I was stationed in Korea. I used to train with Pete Spratt when I was living in San Antonio. I met Matt Serra, Ed Hermann, Brandon Vera, Alan Belcher and Leonard Garcia at local shows. Plus I got to see the Chris Tuchsherer fight Brandon Lee Hinkle at a casino in North Dakota, both UFC vets and the running man Kalib Starnes was also on that same card.

 

[joegrizzly74]

I met danny Downes at WEC 53. Pretty awesome dude. Really down to earth and hung out with everyone after his fight by concession Stands..... Phil davis was there too but seemed kinda dickish.

 

[JW'sGirl]

Last night I was at the live taping of Jimmy Kimmel for the Switchfoot concert and I didn't actually get to meet Rampage or Jon Jones, but I did see them outside the studio. I was bummed I couldn't get closer to get a picture with them

 

[MrExcitement]

I met Billy Dib (Lightweight Boxing Champion) when he defended his title in my home state. He'll be coming stateside soon, so if you havent heard of him, look him up. I also saw IBF Middleweight champion Daniel Geal in his car on the way to his fight when i was waiting for a bus. He was in traffic on my side of the road and i wished him well for his fight. Another guy heading to the US. Thats about it though.