The best social media reactions from UFC's Las Vegas weekend retreat
Warning: Posts may contain coarse language
With hundreds of UFC fighters gathered in Las Vegas over the weekend for a company retreat, there are bound to be shenanigans. Fortunately, outside of an ugly run-in between Cris Cyborg and Angela Magana, most of the hi jinks was lighthearted and the majority of attendees had a positive experience.
Here are some of the best reactions from those who made the trip to the UFC performance center and lived to tell about it.
Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley has had enough of people saying that potential challenger Demian Maia will outgrapple him, so he took it upon himself to playfully ambush Maia:
.@TWooodley is getting his #UFC Welterweight Championship defense started early. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/u7jwl1eQZA
— FOX Sports: PROcast (@PROcast) May 20, 2017
Most of the fighters were excited to show off the brand-new performance center and the various amenities they were treated to over the weekend:
Kicking it at the UFC Athlete Retreat @ufc pic.twitter.com/lfz6umKyDp
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) May 22, 2017
Fighters or Cheerleaders?!?! @amanda_leoa @ninaansaroff 😝🤣 #take1 #take2 #UFCAR17 pic.twitter.com/JrxwIqbDaf
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) May 22, 2017
Kobe Bryant was on hand to motivate the UFC's athletes:
Kobe Bryant just told the majority of the UFC fighters that unity between the athletes is essential #prounion
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) May 20, 2017
Kobe Bryant said 'when the tide rises all the boats go up' in support of athlete associations #UFC #UFCAR17
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) May 20, 2017
The retreat also gave fighters plenty of opportunity to hang out with friends, rivals, and even meet their peers for the first time:
I just want to touch the @sagenorthcutt ... don't make it weird @ufc pic.twitter.com/PDyrqKaHBv
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) May 21, 2017
Trying to take a cute pic but @jessicapenne can't stop flexing on bitches #UFCAR17 #UFCAtheleteRetreat pic.twitter.com/0EppCLQBnr
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) May 21, 2017
And the whole thing wrapped up with a Snoop Dogg concert:
Never a dull moment when your "hangin wit the booooysss!" 😂 @CWadeMMA @GPVillante
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) May 22, 2017
---#snoopdogg #vegas #ufcar17 @ufc pic.twitter.com/EfNNql6X81
Overall, there appeared to be much optimism after the weekend retreat, in contrast to the unrest expressed by several fighters in recent months:
Productive meeting about @reebok at the #ufcar17 with the @ufc. Things are looking up.
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) May 22, 2017
Having a good time at #ufcar17 it's good to learn about the new owners and the direction the UFC going &what they're doing to help fighters
— BRYAN BARBERENA (@bryan_barberena) May 20, 2017
The @UFC is treating us all like kings this wknd! Honored to be here 🙏🏼
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) May 20, 2017
The @ufc athlete retreat has been a rad experience. Hella fun with almost no drama. A big step in the right direction.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) May 21, 2017
- With h/t to MMA Fighting