Norm’s venerable Las Vegas insider gossip column has a couple of MMA references this week. Norm, for those of you not familiar with him, is a Las Vegas legend and may rock the classic eye patch look better than anyone on the planet at the moment. His column features insider news of interest to Las Vegas types along with a ‘who was seen where’ roll call.

First, the report of Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons at UFC 86:

You couldn’t miss beleaguered Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons at the Ultimate Fighting Championship event Saturday.

He was seated on the apron of the octagon, near the judges, and in full view from most camera angles.

Later, he was spotted on the dance floor at Tao nightclub at The Venetian, chatting with former Nevada Attorney General George Chanos and “Titanic” actor Billy Zane.

An old saying comes to mind: When you’re being run out of town, act like you’re leading a parade.

You’d never know this was a governor with abysmal approval ratings, a messy divorce, one of the state’s worst budget crises and a never-ending string of negative headlines.

Gibbons’ high-profile seat at the UFC event at Mandalay Bay and the appearance at Tao suggest he’s living in a “Happy-Days-Are-Here-Again” world.

He was spotted snapping photos of celebrities at the UFC fight and in a private sky box at Tao with a couple who appeared to be in their mid-30s.

Norm also reports on the ‘Sleep with the Fishes’ pool party at The Palm, at which Chuck Liddell, Lorenzo Fertitta and The Dana were in attendance:

At the Palms Place Swim-With-the-Fishes pool party Tuesday; Lindsay Lohan’s galpal DJ Samantha Ronson; illusionist David Blaine; motocross legend Carey Hart; UFC’s Dana White, Chuck Liddell and Lorenzo Fertitta; chefs Paul Bartolotta and Jeff Henderson; Planet Hollywood’s Robert Earl; UNLV basketball star Joe Darger; author Michele Jaffe; Luxor President Felix Rappaport; Jeff Beacher; food critic John Curtas; and Las Vegas dealmaker Jack Wishna.

And this has nothing to do with anything, except its a funny line. Norm quotes Jay Leno:

“It was so hot today, John McCain offered a $300 million prize to the first person to develop a prune Slurpee.” — Jay Leno

Norm: Gov. Gibbons is a man about town @ Las Vegas Review Journal