UFC Aiming for January Debut in Canada
The UFC is targeting January for the organization’s first ever event in Canada reports confirmed. The UFC has tried on multiple occasions to bring the promotion to the country but scheduling conflicts and other delays have constantly pushed the event back though the UFC now appears set to finally make it’s long-awaited debut in Canada.
There has been a buzz about a possible UFC event in Canada in 2008 ever since Georges St. Pierre recovered from his unsuccessful title defense against Matt Serra at UFC 69 with a convincing win over fellow-top contender Josh Koscheck at UFC 74 in August. The win earned the native-Canadian a chance to recapture the welterweight Championship though that opportunity will not come at this event. With current champion Matt Serra fighting Matt Hughes at the UFC’s final event of the year, UFC 79, St. Pierre will have to wait until spring of next year before his opportunity to reclaim the belt is fulfilled and will not appear on the January fight card.
The event will be held in the Bell Center in Montreal. The venue is the home of the National Hockey League’s Montreal Canadiens. The hockey club’s winter schedule along with other events scheduled to be held in the arena made it difficult for the UFC to find an opening to hold an event in the arena.
No date has been announced though January 12th appears the most likely. With the Canadiens occupying the arena on January 5th and 19th it left the UFC with Saturday openings on January 12th and 26th. January 12th jumps out as the most likely date with the UFC tentatively planning an event several weeks later on February 2nd, the day before the Super Bowl.
The UFC is likely to return to Canada later in 2008 to feature St. Pierre in a Welterweight Championship main event.
Tags: Georges St. Pierre
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I wonder, which Canadian fighters will be in this event, if it is going to be held in Canada. I think Cote will be one of the headliners for this event. It would have been good to see David Loiseau in this PPV, but he is no longer in the UFC. I hope we see Loiseau again. Goulet probably might not be in this event, since he lost his last fight. J-Mac is fighting in November. Which other Canadian fighters might be in this card?
I would say that’s a good list of names. I would expect MacDonald and possible Kalib Starnes. Some of the others really depend on their contract status. Obviously GSP will be doing a lot of marketing for the event and be on hand for autographs and the like.
I forgot about Starnes. Thanks for reminding me Kris. A Starnes vs. Cote fight seems good. I wonder what title would be on the line for this UFC PPV regardless of whether it is in Canada or not?
Finally. Personally, I think there should be a consideration of another USA vs Canada card because the last one went over really well with Loiseau vs Franklin headlining. I’d like to see Homnick, Starnes, Cote, Stout or Loiseau, all are great competitors and I’m sure would love to put on a show for us. I don’t think Starnes is ready for Cote just yet, maybe if Swick hasn’t landed a welterweight fight by then he could be a good matchup for Cote and possibly a rematch against Grove or another rising welterweight like Koscheck for Starnes.
Keep the updates comin, thanks alot, I couldn’t be more excited, cheers.
The next UFC event in canada after montreal should be in Edmonton the second largest mma population in Canada. It would sell out in a day!(vancity banned mma promotions).
[...] reports stated that the UFC was tentatively planning a January event in Montreal, Canada but that event now appears to be on hold until later in 2008. [...]