With aging gladiator retired, UFC 143 to debut new 60-second 'show opener'
It appears the UFC's famed gladiator is no more.
The UFC will debut a new 60-second opening for its pay-per-view events at this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" show in Las Vegas. It'll replace the one that's been in use for nearly a decade.
The segment, which was produced by the digital-production company Digital Domain (and sister company Mothership), features highlights from 18 of the UFC's most iconic fights.
For years, the UFC has used an opening spot that features a gladiator suiting up for battle. The clip, though, has become infamously outdated and mocked.
According to a release, Digital Domain created the one-minute spot to encompass all eras of the UFC. Fights clips will combine archival footage with "entirely imagined backgrounds" that are meant to show the evolution of the sport. Additionally, the score was created by famed film producer and music producer Hans Zimmer through his company, 14th St. Music.
"The UFC is heading into a new chapter and taking the brand to the next level," UFC president Dana White stated. "We've had the same show open for the past nine years, and with his monumental FOX deal and the global expansion of the UFC, we wanted to come up with a new show open that paid tribute to the fighters who helped us build the business and grow the sport."
A team of 20 artists worked on the clip, which debuts at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) during Saturday's PPV broadcast
It appears the UFC's famed gladiator is no more.
The UFC will debut a new 60-second opening for its pay-per-view events at this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" show in Las Vegas. It'll replace the one that's been in use for nearly a decade.
The segment, which was produced by the digital-production company Digital Domain (and sister company Mothership), features highlights from 18 of the UFC's most iconic fights.
For years, the UFC has used an opening spot that features a gladiator suiting up for battle. The clip, though, has become infamously outdated and mocked.
According to a release, Digital Domain created the one-minute spot to encompass all eras of the UFC. Fights clips will combine archival footage with "entirely imagined backgrounds" that are meant to show the evolution of the sport. Additionally, the score was created by famed film producer and music producer Hans Zimmer through his company, 14th St. Music.
"The UFC is heading into a new chapter and taking the brand to the next level," UFC president Dana White stated. "We've had the same show open for the past nine years, and with his monumental FOX deal and the global expansion of the UFC, we wanted to come up with a new show open that paid tribute to the fighters who helped us build the business and grow the sport."
A team of 20 artists worked on the clip, which debuts at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) during Saturday's PPV broadcast
