Folks,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note. I'm out here in Las Vegas for UFC 79, which I'll be covering for SI.com. I arrived mid-afternoon yesterday with my wife and it's been a great trip so far. And, as those of you who have been to Vegas before know, there's much more to the city than just gambling and MMA.

First of all, we're staying at the Mandalay Bay, which had surprisingly low rates for this time of the year. It's obviously a great hotel and really more of a resort than just a hotel. But, what's up with charging $27 per person per day to use their gym? And, $12.99 per laptop for Internet access in our room?

It may have all been worth it, though, for some MMA fans who ran into Chuck Liddell in the lobby and were able to take pics with "The Iceman."

In the evening, my wife and I saw Ka at the Ka Theater in the MGM Grand Hotel (there's a convenient tram from the Mandalay Bay to the Excalibur and two walkways later you're at the MGM Grand.) I'd never been to a Cirque du Soleil show before and I was absolutely blown away by Ka. The level of athleticism displayed by the performers was remarkable. There were even a couple of segments in the show in which both my wife and I actually worried about the safety of the performers. I highly recommend this show. It definitely got me pumped for some great MMA action Saturday night.

Afterward, we headed over to the Paris Hotel for dinner at Mon Ami Gabi, a very reputable French restaurant. As with many restaurants here, you can't go wrong at Mon Ami Gabi. Another highly recommended spot for your next visit.

Today, we're going to chill. Weigh-ins are at 4:00 p.m. PST. So, of course, we'll be there. UFC 79 is only a day and a half away ...

Editor's note: Check out a photo gallery of UFC 79 fighters here.