Fans invited to UFC 166 workouts, weigh-ins, tailgate party in Houston

The UFC returns to Houston this week for the first time in two years, and fans are invited to several pre-fight events in anticipation of UFC 166.

On Wednesday, fans can attend open fighter workouts for UFC 166, on Friday they can attend the official weigh-in event, and on Saturday, the day of the event, fans can attend a pre-show tailgate party.

“UFC 166: Velasquez vs. dos Santos 3? takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (12-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) defends his title against former champ Junior Dos Santos (16-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in the main event. It will be the third time to two have fought. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and Facebook.

In addition to the Velasquez-dos Santos trilogy fight, UFC 166 features a heavyweight bout between Daniel Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Roy Nelson (19-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) in what is expected to be Cormier’s final fight in the division before dropping to light heavyweight. And former Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez (21-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) takes on Diego Sanchez (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC).

Wednesday’s open fighter workouts feature Velasquez, dos Santos, Cormier, Nelson, Melendez and Sanchez and take place at House of Blues, 1204 Caroline St. in Houston. The first fighter begins his workout at 1 p.m. CT local time.

Friday’s weigh-in event takes place at Toyota Center. Members of the UFC’s Fight Club can enter the venue at 1:30 p.m. CT. There will be a Q&A with a fighter still to be announced at 2 p.m., following by doors to the general public at 3 p.m. and the first fighter on the scale at 4 p.m.

And Saturday’s tailgate party will take place outside Toyota Center from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. CT. There will be meet and greets and autograph sessions with UFC fighters for fans, prize giveaways, a UFC merchandise tent, music and sponsor booths, in addition to food and beverage vendors.

The full UFC 166 card includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos – for heavyweight title
• Daniel Cormier vs. Roy Nelson
• Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez
• Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shawn Jordan
• John Dodson vs. Darrell Montague

PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)

• Tim Boetsch vs. CB Dollaway
• Hector Lombard vs. Nate Marquardt
• Jessica Eye vs. Sarah Kaufman
• K.J. Noons vs. George Sotiropoulos

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6 p.m. ET)

• Adlan Amagov vs. T.J. Waldburger
• Tony Ferguson vs. Mike Rio
• Andre Fili vs. Jeremy Larsen
• Kyogi Horiguchi vs. Dustin Pague

For more on UFC 166, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Cain Velasquez)