Quebec Policies Could Prevent Staging Of Montreal UFC Card

Quebec's Liquor And Gaming Board Has Refused To Grant License For UFC 97

The literal interpretation of Quebec's liquor and gaming board's prize fight regulations "could jeopardize the [UFC's] second Canadian foray," UFC 97 on April 18 at the Bell Centre, according to Sean Gordon of the GLOBE & MAIL. The board, which oversees combat sports in Quebec, "has thus far refused to grant a licence to the UFC," whose rules allow elbow and knee strikes, prompting UFC to "demand an emergency meeting, scheduled for this week." UFC President Dana White last weekend said on Montreal-based CKAC-AM, "I don't think it's something we can't work out, I'm very confident we'll get this fixed." But board spokesperson Rejean Theriault said, "The law is the law." Gordon reports the board's rules, "as drafted, don't allow UFC-style fights, even though they have been held in Quebec for more than a decade." The April 18 UFC card had "sold 13,000 tickets to the organization's Internet subscribers in just a few hours." UFC 83 drew 20,011 fans to Bell Centre last April, and while the board "sanctioned that event -- pocketing $55,000 in fees -- it is balking at the next one." Gordon noted some "have blamed a change in the board's senior management, but regardless of the motivation, mixed martial arts in Quebec might soon be history" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/16). White noted UFC co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta "will travel to Montreal this week to meet with officials and iron out any remaining issues." White said of UFC 97, "I can't see it not coming there" (FANHOUSE.com, 2/15).

REASON FOR CHANGE IN STANCE: SPORTSNET's Joe Ferraro reported the Quebec Athletic Commission is "trying to put their foot down on what they believe is the right thing to do" after a February 6 MMA event held in the province "that resulted in a near riot." The event, which was not affiliated with UFC, was "not promoted as an MMA event but one that would only include striking and takedowns; no ground work whatsoever." The commission ruled that it would be governed under MMA rules, but the "fans were never informed and chaos ensued." Ferraro: "The sport of MMA should not be punished because of what happened last weekend. And it absolutely has nothing to do with the upcoming UFC event in Montreal" (SPORTSNET.ca, 2/13).

SAFETY TALK: SI's Jon Wertheim, who has written a book on MMA, participated in a Q&A with the N.Y. TIMES' Ray Krueger and said he does not "think we'll see a death in the UFC." Wertheim: "These guys are world-class athletes, technically skilled and accustomed to taking blows. ... The problem is these fly-by-night organizations and random MMA shows that keep popping up. The fighters on these cards aren't nearly as experienced or well conditioned." Wertheim added, "One MMA death on a card held in some hotel ballroom or strip club -- particularly if accompanied by YouTube video -- and the whole sport is in trouble" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15).