Hey, fight fans. I’m fresh back from the UFC debut on Fox Sports 1 in Boston. Let me start with aplogies once again. Remember back in 2010 when I promised live tweets from the cheap seats? Turns out I couldn’t get cell service in The Gardern and it didn’t work out.

Well, I kept mum this year, but I hoped to surprise you with some live coverage. Turns out my battery died and it didn’t work out!

Sorry about that!

But while I failed to deliver last night, I’d like to share some insider highlights about the experience. Unless you live in Vegas, chances are you haven’t had too many opportunities to attend a live show. Here are some of the best parts of the night that was the UFC’s second visit to Beantown.

Ronda Rousey got more applause than most of the prelim fighters when she walked out with The Anvil, and she totally deserved it. She looked more psyched for the fight she was cornering than either of the fighters! What a boss.

Speaking of fanfare, it sounded like a soccer match when Conor McGregor fought–the crowd even belted out the usual chants you hear in the European leagues. Great fight, too. He lived up to the hype.

The guy in the crowd who shouted, “Beat Hollaway because he’s in Boston and not Irish! Send him back to that tropical paradise!” was annoying but funny.

The guy who shouted, “Do it for William Wallace!” was funny because he needed a geography lesson.

Pineda vs Brandao was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen. Being there was beyond exciting. Should have got Fight of the Night.

But Pickett vs. McDonald wasn’t too bad either! (Though McDonald’s Boston Strong comments were a little disingenuous.)

Hall vs. Howard was one of the most underwhelming fights I’ve ever seen. The goofy, WWE-inspired final exchanges of the fight made up for it.

Joe Lauzon was simply out-worked and out-classed by Michael Johnson. I’m refering to Johnson as Mini-Rashad for now on.

J-Lau’s local fans are the best though. Many were wearing exclusive T-shirts he handed out from 2010–replete with the quote “I love fighting like a fat kid loves cake.” The rest had brand new ones that looked like Bruins jerseys.

Mike Brown got a raw deal, even though he was out. Matt Brown is the real deal, and I can’t wait to see him against more top-flight competition. Travis Brown is a big, gawky dude, but he’s a tough mother who didn’t need to lift his massive leg too high to knockout a cocky and gassed Overeem.

Speaking of Overeem, when is he finally going to realize that he’s not a pre-Wideman Anderson Silva? Rheem, buddy, I don’t care how many horses you eat, people can, and will, knock you out!

Travis Brown telling the audience, “we’re only brave fifteen minutes more than you are. We never went through what you’ve been through,” was heartfelt and touching.

The guy sitting behind me calling the Faber fight was a little off. I wouldn’t say he “beat up and punished” Alcantara exactly. He did out-wrestle him though.

Speaking of out-wrestling, it’s well documented on this site that ALar and I truly hate Chael Sonnen. But he totally smoked Shogun last night. I hope he and Belfort get really juiced up and put on a good show someday soon

PS – A shoutout to my brother, Seth Antonitis, for treating me to the event. Thanks! Here’s a link to his excellent percussion group, The Rhythm Room. Check it out!