"Thankfully, the new and improved Apex comes with more than a new name. There's seating for fans, and while limited, it's nice to have an actual cheering section in the building. It certainly made a difference in the broadcast, though it's worth noting that as with every other UFC card, half the fans didn't turn up until the back half of the night."
"The big story coming into UFC Vegas 113 was Vinicius Oliveira's weight. A week out from the fight, he claimed to be 30 pounds heavy. That's a lot of weight to lose in just days. Credit to his dedication, Oliveira did make weight for the fight, but he also gassed early. For a fighter in his first main event, claiming he'd fight for the bantamweight title inside of a year, it wasn't a good look."
"Oliveira noted during his media day appearance that he won't be long for 135lbs and will move up to featherweight at some point. Honestly, he might want to consider that sooner than later. Arriving off the Contender Series in 2023, the now-30-year old took the long road to the UFC, with a 20-3 record when he made his promotional debut. He's in his prime, and if the cut to 135 is that draining, he needs to move up now and get on a proper run."
UFC Vegas 113 served as the first Fight Night of the Paramount+ era at the rebranded Meta Apex, which added limited fan seating and boosted broadcast atmosphere. Four fights finished early, including Mario Bautista submitting Vinicius Oliveira in the main event. Bryson Hester missed his role due to the flu, prompting a replacement to evaluate matchups. Vinicius Oliveira struggled with an extreme bantamweight cut, claiming to be 30 pounds heavy a week out, making weight but gassing early. Oliveira is in his athletic prime but should move up to featherweight and could face #15-ranked David Onama.
Read at Cageside Press
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