Watch: Bill Belichick was crowned a UFC champion by Dana White
The Patriots visited the Ultimate Fighting Championship's headquarters in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
After Wednesday’s joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Patriots took a break from football and ventured into the world of mixed martial arts.
The team visited the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Performance Institute in Las Vegas, where they were greeted by UFC President Dana White. During a tour of the facility, White had a surprise for head coach Bill Belichick.
He strapped a championship belt around Belichick’s waist, eliciting a big smile from the typically stoic coach, who raised his arms in celebration.
“Bill Belichick just won a UFC title,” UFC commentator Brendan Fitzgerald tweeted along with a video of the moment.
Receiver Kendrick Bourne seemed to share Belichick’s excitement about being at the UFC’s headquarters, showing off some new merchandise in a video posted on his Instagram story.
“I just signed to the UFC. I’m a fighter now! I changed my career,” Bourne joked in the video.
Serving as the promotion’s headquarters, the UFC Performance Institute is a 30,000 square-foot facility “efficiently designed to deliver a holistic integrated performance service portfolio.” Some of the world’s best mixed martial artists train at the Performance Institute, which is located just over 10 miles from the Raiders’ practice facility.
The Patriots have spent the week in Las Vegas, going through a solo practice on Monday before joint practices with the Josh McDaniels-led Raiders on Tuesday and Wednesday. The two teams will face off in their final preseason game on Friday at 8:15 p.m.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com