UFC fighters weigh in ahead of Tampa fights on FOX 13

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In front of a frenzied crowd of UFC fanatics, the fighters stepped on the scale inside Ruth Eckerd Hall before stepping into the octagon Saturday night at Amalie Arena. 

It's the UFC's first fight in Tampa since 2009.

"Obviously, this isn't something you don't get to do every day. We've been waiting for this," said UFC fan Raquel Aguilar.

"Tampa has, in my opinion, the biggest MMA market in Florida, by far," said UFC fan Matthew Gaither.

For Tampa-based fighter Sean Hollis, it's a chance to watch the best of the best in his backyard.

"You just want to see good fights. I want to mimic my fight game to see what I see in the octagon," Hollis said.

Main-eventer Rashad Evans does his training a few hours away in Boca Raton. 

"It's going to be great to fight not too far away. I have a lot of friends and family being able to come," Evans said.

He says working out in Florida gives him an edge.

"When you wake up and you see that sun and feel that energy. you have no reason not to. It motivates, it motivates you to do more. I find that since I been here, I train better," he said.

The main-card airs on FOX 13 starting at 8 p.m.