Employing a game plan that dates back to '10, the UFC is "planning three live events in Canada next year, with one being a major pay-per-view card," according to Dave Pollard of the TORONTO SUN. Vancouver and Quebec City are both "prime locations to land UFC cards" in '19, on the heels of events in Toronto (UFC 231 on Dec. 8), Moncton (Saturday) and Calgary in '18. UFC Senior VP/Int'l & Content David Shaw said, "The only thing set in stone right now in terms of live events is that we’ll be coming back here three times, which we’ve done over the last four or five years. Three events across the country. We always want to hit a major media market, especially with the pay-per-view, and we try to get out to new communities that haven’t had a chance to see us." He added, "Next year we’ll see another event in the west, maybe Vancouver. We haven’t been there in a few years. We haven’t been to Quebec in a couple of years as well."Pollard notes 10 Canadian cities have "hosted UFC events a total of 26 times, with that number set to swell by one after the UFC Fight Night event in Moncton on Saturday." The UFC also has its "eyes on building its brand in two virtually virgin fight markets -- Russia and China." Shaw said that the UFC has "opened an office in Moscow after doing the same in Shanghai." South America, outside of Brazil, is another "part of the world the UFC would love to tap into" (TORONTO SUN, 10/26).
A MIGHTY DEAL? ESPN.com's Ariel Helwani noted the UFC and One Championship are "close to finalizing what could be considered the first major trade in mixed martial arts history." Sources said that there is a "proposed deal on the table for the UFC to release former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson from his contract in order to allow him to sign" with One Championship. In return, One will "release former welterweight champion Ben Askren from his contract so he can finally join the UFC." Sources said that the deal "isn't finalized just yet, however, it has been discussed at length" and is categorized by as "close to getting done" (ESPN.com, 10/24).
