UFC president Dana White was in celebratory mode during a Monday press conference for local Chicago media in preparation for his Oct. 25 event. Tickets just went on sale on Monday morning but according to the Chicago Sun-Times, UFC 90 has already sold in excess of 15,000 tickets. White claimed that the event after less than a day of ticket sales is already in the books as the highest gate in the history of All-State Arena.

''This is a bold statement in a town with the White Sox and Cubs and the Bears, but I guarantee you this will be the most exciting live sporting event you have ever seen,'' White said. ''I can't explain it to you. You have to experience it. The closest thing that comes to it is when Mike Tyson was in his heyday. There was so much excitement about someone getting knocked out.''

The arena GM Pat Nagle told Sun-Times writer Roman Modrowski that only 3,000 tickets in the highest price ranges remain. The capacity for UFC 90 is expected to be near 19,000. Modrowski gave props to White for sticking around Millennium Park well after the conference ended to sign autographs and take photos.

White was joined by main event fighters Anderson Silva and Patrick Cote. Thiago Alves and Diego Sanchez also attended the presser. Michael David Smith of AOL Fanhouse was on hand and posted video conversations with Cote and WEC star Miguel Torres.

The Chicago Tribune covered the event as well and focused on White's long standing contention that boxing laid out the blueprint of how to succeed in the fight world.

UFC should have a much of Chicago's attention that weekend. It's the Bears' bye week and Notre Dame is playing on the road at Washington.