UFC Likely Returning To Montreal in November or December
The UFC will return to the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada in November or December for it’s second event in the country, according to Sportsnet.ca:
“”I literally just left a meeting where we were talking about that,” UFC president Dana White told The Canadian Press on Tuesday. “We’re looking to come back to Montreal.”
White said the mixed martial arts organization hopes to return in November or December.
Should [Georges] St. Pierre dispose of top contender Jon Fitch in Minneapolis at UFC 87 on Saturday night, the stage could be set for a super-fight in Montreal later this year between the Canadian star and lightweight champion B.J. Penn. The Hawaiian fighter has long expressed a desire to return to the 170-pound ranks from 155 pounds to have another crack at St. Pierre, who won a split decision when the two welterweights met at UFC 58 in March 2006 in Las Vegas.”
21,390 fans packed the venue on April 19th for the promotion’s first-ever Canadian event, UFC 83, which featured Montreal’s Georges St. Pierre defeating Matt Serra to reclaim the 170-pound UFC welterweight championship.
The New Year’s show is always in Vegas, so I can’t see them doing it in December.
BJ/GSP…. MONTREAL…. HUGE….
WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE THEY GIVE GSP ALOT OF SLACK… THEY GAVE GSP THE SERRA FIGHT AT HOME AND THEN IN WORKS OF ANOTHER “HUGE” FIGHT FOR GSP AT HOME AGAIN…
It’s purely a business decision, though another alternative might be GSP-Penn outdoors in Hawaii.
I was lucky enough to attend the first show and it was just massive, the atmosphere was great, and GSP, being native, is just a massive draw there.
I can’t see GSP-Penn being held anywhere but Hawaii or Montreal.
Right natedogg77, the new years show is always in Vegas and the TUF 8 Finale is in mid-December in Vegas as well so I think this event (UFC 91 most likely) will be in November.
perhaps if it is in November in Montreal and BJ does beat GSP in this “super fight” the UFC should then put the rubber match on in Hilo,Hi….. has the potential to be one of the greatest fight ever, o and i do believe that BJ should go to Japan if he ever were to fight Gomi again yet that is just wishful thinking….
THAT WOULD BE AWSOME AN OUTDOOR EVENT… THAT WOULD BE SWEET. I DON’T THINK THEYD HAVE SUCH A BIG FIGHT OVER SEAS JUST DO TO PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO SPEND SOME SERIOUS CASH… I THINK IT’LL BE IN MONTREAL…
oh man ill be there this time!
Now I’m torn. I wanted Fitch to beat GSP originally. Now that GSP might fight Penn if he’s victorious, I’m having a change of heart. That is a rematch I’ve been dying to see…..especially while both fighters are at the top of their games. Two champs clashing….f-n NICE!
Kris,
If Penn moves up and is victorious against GSP, does he get both titles? (LW and WW?) Or is it a super fight no title on the line? The only thing I don’t like about one fighter holding two titles, is the length of time between the title defenses in both weight classes.
THATS A GOOD POINT KOUCH… I HOPE ITS NOT FOR THE BELT… DO YOU GUYS THINK GSP CAN GO DOWN IN WEIGHT TO LW…
I think GSP walks around at 190.
SO THATS A NO… I DOUBT HE CAN GET DOWN TO 155 AND BE DOMINATE.
If they fight it has to be five rounds, thus it must be for the belt. No way this insanely great superfight should be a mere 3 rounds. This has to be a definitive result, not the big question mark that the last fight was.
If BJ wins then he either stays at 170 and drops the LW belt or moves back down and drops the WW belt. It makes a lot more sense to stay at WW since that’s where all of the challenges are. I’m sure that’s what he’ll do.
The only guy that could lure him down to LW is Huerta, if he beats Florian and then makes a lot of noise about wanting Penn.
The biggest reason it has to be for the belt (besides needing it to go 5) is that you can’t have a beaten man as champ.
If BJ were to beat GSP in a non-title fight, and GSP was left with his belt after the fight he would be a total lame duck Champ and it would be humiliating to be called the Champ after he just lost to a guy who is currently fighting in the UFC.
He would have to give up the belt to save any face and then try to work on getting it back. It’s the only way to go.
The WW belt is even better than the LW belt for Penn, so I don’t see any reason he has to worry about leaving one belt behind.
Man i hope the tickets don’t sell out in 12 mins like the last time. I ****ing want to see that.
Hey if Penn wants to get picked up and slammed like a lil boy again, come on up. No titles though. Penn’s a self-glorified whiner who should be worrying about Florian or Huerta. There should be some sort of rule that doesn’t allow title holders to move up or down unless there is a no definitive number one contender. Both have work to do and it shouldn’t be interrupted because Penn is whining. One day, they will fight again. Let’s see what happens this weekend!!
wow im not quite sure BJ Penn exactly sucks, perhaps a bit mouthy but totally sucks ya im not thinking that….. GSP is an excellent fighter in his own right im fans of both i just cant wait to see a five round fight for 170lbs title……
u cant cuz if bj held both belts those belts would b defended max 3 times a year especially since penn doesnt wanna fight more the 3 times a year whereas two people have the belts they get defended 3 times each makin more title defenses and makin more $$$ now as for it being 5 rounds y not just make it 5 rounds or make a bull**** championship for this fight and call it the UFC open weight title or something cuz i agree it needs to b 5 rounds but riskin someone holdin 2 belts is too much
I agree Daddy Lupo,
I just moved to Ottawa from BC and I REALLY want to see this, I’ll be trying to buy tickets as soon as they are put on sale. BJ vs GSP would be an awesome rematch. I am Canadian but I can’t pick a winner for that one, but rooting for GSP!
I wouldn’t even mind seeing GSP defended the belt against Thiago Alves, does anyone think he deserves a title shot after he beat Hughes? Or should he fight again first and who should the opponent be?
Whether, in hawaii, montreal, or never never land, BJ Penn will never avenge his loss to my boy GSP. GSP is without question, the baddest fighter in MMA right now and after he decapitates overrated a$$ Jon Fitch, i hope they do make the BJ fight.
The fight would be for a belt and if Penn won, he would have both, but also be forced to defend both at the weight class and a time limit would be imposed. Given the strain on the body and frequency of fights necessary, Penn would likely give up one belt - best guess is the LW belt, because the bigger name fighters are at WW and therefore bigger paydays.
This announcement is unfair for GSP as it now becomes an added distraction as he goes for a title defense against a tough match-up in Fitch.
Why is Dana so clueless sometimes? Or is it simply his ego to always be part of the story.
Don’t forget Gomi vs Diaz wasn’t a title fight and he lost. So a loser CAN retain a belt and still keep his standing as a champ. Even though that decision was ultimately scrapped due to marijuana use Gomi was going to keep his title no matter what the outcome.
I definitely don’t like the way slick kid talks about BJ, but he is right in that BJ doesnt deserve a title shot at WW he lost his last fight in the weight class and needs to fight some other fighters before he is given the title shot. How about Kos vs BJ or Thiago Alvez vs BJ. As far as the next UFC in Montreal and super fights how about a catch weight fight GSP vs the Spider.
THIAGO ALVES VS BJ PENN…… MMMMMMMM I LIKE THAT BUT ITS A RISK I DON’T KNOW IF THAT IS POSSIBLE…
KOS VS BJ……. I LIKE TOO MORE OF A POSSIBILITY
gsp vs silva
gsp will destroy penn the fight of night will be mir nogueria its going to be a war
bj should have to get through fitch he is an animal he is going to be gsp best challenge by far nothing against alves and diego…sanchez will never be able to take down gsp and alves will stand up and either get his head taken off or the will stand up for awhile and gsp will ground and pound
1st Hilo doesn’t have anywhere that could hold a fight that big. Dana has stated he wants to come to Hawaii in 09 and it will be outdoors at Aloha stadium in Honolulu, HI.
Its funny how all thse guys are jumping all over this story. Bj lost a split desicion to GSP, hardly a beating (the only reason he one was the takedowns which he never did anything with). And if you looked at the fighters after that fight you tell me who won, like I said before its the only time I’ve seen GSP bleed. If BJ doesn’t Gas at the end he wins. BJ’s standup and Ju Jitsu are better than GSP’s. BJ’s chin is hugely underrated and we have all seen GSP get caught before. So I do give BJ a 70-30 shot to win.
this will sell-out so fast there to many mma nut in canada and with ufc the only big org that will travel to them they make serous cash there if they do december in Montreal there will be riots for tickets. specially for GSP vs. Penn
gsp and penn would be a better fight than the first one they both have improved so much