UFC staff members orchestrated a clever prank that caught several UFC stars completely off guard as they entered the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
The setup was simple yet effective: replace a familiar statue in the lobby with a live person dressed in an identical bodysuit and UFC fight kit. The human “mannequin” remained perfectly still in the same pose as the original statue, patiently waiting for unsuspecting victims to walk by.
“At UFC headquarters there’s a statue we walk past every day,” explained the mastermind behind the prank. “We decided to switch it out for one of our own employees to scare anyone who walked by.”
The results were priceless. When UFC stars including Cody Garbrandt, Forrest Griffin, Claudia Gadelha, and Jessica Andrade walked past, they were completely startled by the suddenly animated “statue.”
Former UFC champion Forrest Griffin had one of the most entertaining reactions. “I thought you were gonna punch me,” he exclaimed after being frightened. “Out of everyone, I thought it would have been you!”
The prank caught even the most battle-tested competitors completely by surprise. One victim hilariously reacted with: “Oh my God, birthday boy! That’s good, that was a good one.”
While most stars were startled, others like Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone had uniquely different reactions that demonstrated their personalities outside the octagon.
The practical joke showed the lighter side of life at UFC headquarters, where even the toughest athletes aren’t immune to a well-executed scare. As one UFC staff member proudly declared after successfully frightening a star: “Pass the vibe check!”
The playful prank highlights the camaraderie and fun atmosphere that exists behind the scenes at the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, proving that sometimes the most entertaining moments happen outside the cage.
