UFC Fight Night: Maia vs Usman: The best and worst

#3 Best: The Santiago crowd were great

The Santiago crowd were molten for the fight between Diego Rivas and Guido Cannetti

When the UFC heads to a new market, one thing it usually guarantees is a hot crowd for the debut show. Last night was no different, as the fans who showed up at the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, were absolutely buzzing throughout the show, literally from the first prelim until the main event.

Granted it was an exciting card – 6 of the 13 fights ended before the final buzzer – but even during slower fights like Michel Prazeres vs. Zak Cummings and the main event, the crowd remained largely into proceedings. And when home country hero Diego Rivas fought Guido Cannetti, they were molten – even with Rivas losing.

The UFC should take heed from this and look to book more shows in new markets – whether that’s inside the USA or outside like last night – rather than constantly heading to Las Vegas. Hotter crowds almost always make for more memorable shows.