Las Vegas Fight Nights: T-Mobile, MGM Grand and Caesars

For half a century the biggest nights in boxing and MMA have ended up in the same place: a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Fights fill hotel rooms, restaurants and gaming floors, and the city's sportsbooks have taken bets on combat sports for decades. Here is how Las Vegas became the fight capital of the world.

Why fights and casinos belong together

Nevada legalised casino gambling in 1931, and sports betting has been legal in the state for many decades, long before most of the United States followed. A big fight brings tens of thousands of high-spending visitors for a whole week, so resorts compete fiercely to host them, often paying large site fees for the privilege. The Nevada State Athletic Commission, meanwhile, became one of the most experienced regulators in combat sports.

Caesars Palace: the outdoor era

Caesars Palace opened in 1966 and soon became synonymous with boxing. For its biggest bouts the resort built temporary outdoor stadiums on its grounds, including in its parking lot. Larry Holmes beat Muhammad Ali there in 1980, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns fought their famously ferocious three-round war in 1985, and Sugar Ray Leonard edged Hagler in a split decision in 1987. Those nights defined the image of Vegas fight week: celebrities ringside, desert heat and the whole Strip talking about one event.

MGM Grand Garden Arena

The MGM Grand opened at the end of 1993 with an indoor arena that seats around 17,000 for fights. It hosted Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson's notorious 1997 rematch, Floyd Mayweather's long run of super-fights, including his 2015 win over Manny Pacquiao, and dozens of UFC pay-per-view events. For many fans, the walk from the casino floor straight into the arena is the classic Vegas fight experience.

T-Mobile Arena

Opened in April 2016 between Park MGM and New York-New York, T-Mobile Arena is a joint venture of MGM Resorts and AEG and the home of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. It took over many of the biggest fights almost immediately: UFC 200 in July 2016, Floyd Mayweather against Conor McGregor in 2017 and a long series of Canelo Álvarez fights. Its larger capacity and modern broadcast set-up made it the default stage for the very largest cards.

Beyond the big arenas

• UFC Apex: the promotion's own smaller venue in Enterprise, just off the Strip, used for many Fight Night cards since 2019.
• Sphere: the spherical venue hosted UFC 306 in September 2024, an event built around its huge wraparound screen.
• Smaller casino ballrooms still host regional boxing and kickboxing shows, often with free or cheap tickets.

Fight week in the sportsbooks

From the press conference to the ceremonial weigh-in, fight week is a festival. Fans pack the casino sportsbooks to watch the odds boards move, argue about the main event and settle in for the undercard on giant screens. On the biggest nights, even people with no ticket gather in the books to watch.

Before you book a trip, read up on the markets: boxing betting explained and how UFC odds work. Once the bell rings, our guide to live betting on fights takes over.