---

BLACK & WHITE (AND BLUE)

THANKS TO DANA WHITE, ARMED WITH SAVVY AND MORE THAN A LITTLE SALTY LANGUAGE, ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP HAS OVERTAKEN BOXING AS THE BIGGEST FIGHT GAME AROUND. NOW IT'S COMING FOR THE OTHER PRO SPORTS LEAGUES. . PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRAD HINES.

It is a few hours before UFC 62 at Mandalay Bay - a fight that will pit Chuck Liddell, the biggest star in mixed martial arts and the reigning light heavyweight champion, against someone who everyone expects will get knocked out quickly, but in grand, wholly entertaining fashion. Liddell's opponent is a guy named Renato Sobral. People call him Babalu. I have no idea why, but, then, it doesn't really matter. All you need to know is that, despite Babalu's having won his last 10 fights, people are eagerly anticipating his destruction at the hands of the
Mohawk-sporting, seemingly untouchable, and completely­ compelling Liddell.

There's a buzz in the casino that's a little louder, a little more palpable than normal; mixed among the flashing lights and ding-ding-ding of slot machines are breathless conversations anticipating tonight's fight and the impending carnage. In general, Las Vegas is insane. A good time, but insane. Now, shortly before various combatants pound each other with merciless kicks, unrepentant elbows, and vicious punches, the city is so charged that it's almost too much to handle, even for me. And I come here all the time.