Quebec Policies Could Prevent Staging Of Montreal UFC Card

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

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).

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