UFC 134 Rio: 5 Things To See in Rio de Janeiro If You Are Traveling to the Fight

If you are one of the lucky few people fortunate enough to be traveling to the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro for UFC 134, there are a few sites you would regret not seeing during your stay.

As a whole, the country of Brazil has some of the most amazing landscapes in the world, with its luscious tropical forests, majestic mountains and awe-inspiring beaches.

Not only does the country boast such a beautiful scenery, it also steaming with amazing cultural sites.  The beaches are booming with fun, active people and the nightlife is even more exciting.

Host to amazing fighters, delicious cuisine and an exciting way of life, their ability to stay laid back in such an active place can be summed up in one phrase:  "É o jeitinho brasileiro." (It's the Brazilian way!)

Copacabana Palace

If you're lucky enough to stay in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, there's only one place to stay if you want to have the most luxurious and classy vacation possible—Copacabana Palace.

The Copacabana Palace is the most famous hotel in Rio and considered by many to be South America's premier hotel.  

The hotel was built by famed French architect Joseph Gire in 1923 and has hosted some of the richest and most famous people in the world over the past 80 years, including Michael Jackson, Walt Disney and the Rolling Stones.

The premises face the famed Copacabana Beach and features 216 rooms, a three-story spa, a nightclub, bars, restaurants and even a swimming pool reserved for VIP guests staying in the penthouse.

If you have the cash to burn, this is the only place to stay in Rio.

Brazil's Best Jiu-Jitsu Schools

Brazil is the birth place of mixed martial arts and home to the best jiu-jitsu academies on the planet.

What better places to check out than the schools that have formed such great champions as Jose Aldo, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva and the whole Gracie clan, just to name a few?

Two premier schools that are worth checking out are the headquarters of the Nova Uniao and Gracie Barra teams.

Both schools are located in Rio de Janeiro and are fantastic places to learn the art in its purest form.

Just remember to say "eu tap" (I tap) when they sink in an armbar!

Sugarloaf Mountain

At the mouth of Guanabara Bay lies the 1,300-foot Sugarloaf Mountain.

The mountain is one of only a few granite and quartz morros that comes right out of the water's coast around Rio de Janeiro.

Lying between two of the mountain's peaks are glass-paneled cable cars that carry passengers between the Pão de Açúcar and Cara de Cão peaks.

The cable cars, built in 1912, are the only way to reach the mountain's summit.

If you are looking to have an exciting, outdoors excursion, then the Sugarloaf Mountain is the perfect place to have an adventure. 

Christ the Redeemer

Even if you are not religious, the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio is one of the last true wonders of the world.

Dedicated in 1931, it is located at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park.

The largest art deco in the world stands 130-feet tall and overlooks the city and its coast.

You haven't seen Rio until you've seen it from the base of this amazing statue.

Ipanema Beach

Although many of us are too young to remember the song, there is no forgetting the beautiful Ipanema Beach once you've seen it.

Located in the southern region of the city, the Ipanema Beach is home to an amazing coast and is considered by many to be one of the sexiest beach in the world.

Surrounding the beach is a thriving neighborhood filled with cafes, art galleries, boutiques and theaters.  Tourists flock to this location every year to celebrate Carnival in the streets.

There's no better place to relax right before the fights than at this amazing beach filled with interesting attractions and beautiful people.