A rare photo from the Cage Potato staff Christmas party.

When it comes to fan interaction and brand building, the UFC is rewriting the book for sports promotions. Between broadcasting fights on Facebook, their latest Twitter crusade, their ever-growing Fan Expo series, and even some brave fighters doling out their phone numbers, the opportunities for fans to connect with fighters and invest themselves in the world of MMA are plenty. Continuing in that mission, the UFC has launched the “UFC Octagon National Tour”.

Overall, this sounds like a pretty cool chance to meet some fighters, get some autographs, and pick up some UFC schwag. The tour will jump around the country, often making pit stops at large festivals like Bonnaroo and the X-Games. If you’ve ever attended any MMA-related event, you know all too well the type of sophisticates that turn out. For every educated fan, you have two guys in chromed-out Ed Hardy shirts talking about how tough Kimbo Slice is. One component of the tour sure to bring out the meatheads is the competitive physical fitness tests. Fans can weigh-in and test their might at pull-ups, vertical jump, and punching strength. Better than simply flexing their barbed-wire tatted biceps for those in attendance, competitors will be given a stats-card designed for Facebook posting so all of cyberspace can taste their machismo.

Any bets as to which member of the Potato Nation will post the highest scores? Here’s a schedule of upcoming tour dates and locations (via MMAPayout.com)

MAY

Sat       5/28     Las Vegas, NV           UFC 130 at MGM Grand Garden Arena

Sun      5/29     Las Vegas, NV           Miller’s Ale House

JUNE

Wed    6/1       Phoenix, AZ                Tilted Kilt

Fri        6/3       Las Vegas, NV           Weigh in @ Palms

Sat       6/4       Las Vegas, NV           TUF 13 Finale – Buffalo Wild Wings

Thu      6/9       Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo

Fri        6/10     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo

Sat       6/11     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo

Sun      6/12     Chattanooga, TN        Bonnaroo

Sat       6/18     Waldorf, MD              Country ThrowDown Tour

Mon     6/20     Washington DC          Marine Week

Tue      6/21     Baltimore, MD            Marine Week

Sat       6/25     New York, NY           Times Square

Sun      6/26     Pittsburgh, PA            UFC Fight Night Arena Tailgate

Thu      6/30     Las Vegas, NV           Vans Warped Tour