Behind the Scenes at UFC

BY CAROLYN MUSE GRANT

UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is a Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts promotion. Locals have heard of UFC but may not be sure what it stands for, or exactly what it was. I initially thought that it was boxing, but after taking a visit to their Corporate Campus, I learned differently. The sport of MMA allows athletes to use techniques from various combat sports and martial arts that includes both striking and grappling. UFC, a globally popular enterprise, produces worldwide events that “showcase twelve weight divisions and abide by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.”

“UFC is a premium global sports brand and the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. It boasts 278 million fans worldwide and produces events in 25 countries. Programming is broadcast in over 165 countries to one billion TV households worldwide in over 40 different languages.” Wow!

So, that tells us a little about it and I was quite surprised when a very good friend of mine, Justin Liming, went to work for UFC. Justin started there close to four years ago and serves as the Senior Equipment Manager. In this role, Justin is responsible for the outfitting of athletes by shipping Fight Kits, ensuring all equipment arrives, and traveling to each event around the world to tailor the athletes clothing. All of the uniforms worn by UFC athletes are provided and sponsored by Reebok.

Justin explains, “I work under Consumer Products on the Equipment Team as the Senior Equipment Manager. There are 11 of us, and we outfit all of the athletes during fight week. We contact the fighters by email to confirm their sizing so the uniforms are made correctly. Typically, there are 13 fights in one night, which means we are responsible for outfitting 26 athletes.”

Before each event, Justin and his team ship all necessary equipment and outfits from Las Vegas. There is usually a team of five or six at each event. Once the athletes arrive, the team makes sure everything fits correctly.

“Unlike any other sporting event, we don’t have an off-season – we work year round. Our work here in Vegas is usually two to three shows in advance. We concentrate on shipping, travel, and everything else we need for the fights. Prior to the actual events, the athletes have to wear their “uniforms,” all sponsored by Reebok, meaning there can be no competing logos. For anything that is press related, the athletes must wear their uniform. And if there is a time lapse between fights for an athlete, we have to make sure that the fighter’s height, weight, and size remained the same or we make the proper adjustments.”

The sport of MMA also differs from boxing in regard to outfitting. In boxing, during the athlete debut, the boxers walk through the seating areas to the ring wearing robes. In UFC, which promotes the sport of MMA, the athletes wear hoodies and a jersey provided by Reebok. Their gloves are already on, which are not provided by Reebok.

Photograph of Justin Liming

As UFC is a global entity, members from Justin’s team are present at every event. Justin and team arrive several days before events, which take place on Saturday nights. Justin says, “Our team arrives Sunday or Monday morning; we meet with shippers, hotel staff, and unload boxes and appliances. Due to the amount of equipment and clothing, our team requires sufficient space to work out of. It depends on the hotel and what’s available. By Monday, we are loading in. Three of us go early, a fourth team member arrives in the middle of the week (usually Thursday), and on Friday the fifth one arrives. We make sure that everything is there. Tuesday, we check in all competing fighters with their Fight Kits. The kit contains all of their gear. We inform them what they will wear out on Fight Night (gloves, shorts, and shoes). We also check to make sure clothing fits and that everything is correct. Some athletes prefer a certain design, or fit, and if it’s different, they can ask, and we create it.”
UFC boasts around 570 athletes on their roster, which includes both male and female fighters. All events feature both male and female bouts. And this was interesting news – after the fight, Justin and his team will collect the fight gear, which includes gloves, jerseys, and hoodies, and sometimes it is sold or donated to charities. Fighters do not keep their outfits.

When the fights are over the team packs up all of the equipment and takes inventory to make sure it’s all there. They finish up a report and send back here to Las Vegas. In some countries, the equipment stays in the country until the next fight.

Before his career with UFC, Justin had an exciting and interesting fashion history. He received a four-year degree from the International Academy of Design and then transferred to Sanford Brown to study pattern making and fashion design. He was always interested in fashion and music as it was always in his family. He loved fashion and how things were made, and as he said, “if I were to create this, how would I do this differently?”

Justin’s diverse background also includes classical opera and piano. “Before I got into fashion design, I toured on cruise ships as a singer and dancer. After, I moved to Las Vegas and worked in the food and retail industries. I wanted to do shows. Oddly enough, I started female impersonator shows and for 11 years headlined a show here in Las Vegas. I didn’t really know how to sew, but I started being creative and making my own costumes. At first, I would ask others if they could make me this or that, but then I started making them myself. The more I did I thought to myself, ‘should I go to school…’ and so five years ago I graduated from fashion design school with a degree in fashion design.”

Making sure everything fits, or if an outfit needs to be repaired minutes before a fighter makes their debut, makes it all quite stressful. Justin makes it happen and has thrived in it.

“I also have a retail background. I was getting back in the show business industry and started designing wedding gowns, and work suits before I was asked about coming to UFC. I told them, sure I can come and chat with you – and four years ago I took the job. They asked me: Can you sew? Do you have a passport? Are you willing and able to travel? I answered, yes – and here I am!”