Even if you’re not a sports fan, there’s something electric about a live event. And while football, baseball, and even soccer games are a solid way to get your heart pumping, nothing compares with the high-stakes occasional bloodbaths of a Ultimate Fighting Championship. PLAYBOY model Annie Palmz is a UFC diehard. Here’s why.
Why Annie Palmz Loves UFC
“I love the atmosphere and going to these events. Just the crowd, the arena and what they’re screaming is probably so much different than any sporting event I’ve ever gone to. It’s absolutely fun. I felt like I was at a Roman colosseum. But seeing these men fight and just cheering them on…there’s intense manly energy. As a woman, I just love it.”
While it’s difficult to imagine a time before UFC, it took the mixed martial arts company quite a while to finally hit. UFC’s first bout was in November 1993, with a 16-man tournament now known as UFC 1. After tightening up the rules in the late 1990s, UFC’s popularity grew into a household name by the mid ’00s.
Now, UFC is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, and has made the careers of fighters including Chuck Liddell, John Jones, and perhaps most famously, Conor McGregor.
The Irish boxer has been fighting in various rings since 2008, and is still UFC’s biggest draw. In fact, in 2021, he was the highest paid athlete in the world, according to Forbes. For Annie, she adores McGregor’s stage presence.
“He’s just funny,” Annie says. “I love his personality and he always puts on a show. He’s so cool.”
Jaime Carrillo is a former contributor at PLAYBOY, where he covered commerce and trends.
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