Canada bound: MMAmania.com to make a run for the border for UFC 83

by Adam Wagner on Apr 14, 2008 1:17 PM EDT Comment 26 comments

ultimatefighttrain
When Mania got in touch with me about a week ago, our conversation went something like this:

Mania: What are you doing the weekend of April 19?

Me: Watching UFC 83, of course. Why?

Mania: How would you like to ride the Ultimate Fight Train from Toronto to Montreal (with bottomless beers), attend UFC 83 live, attend the official TapouT afterparty, stay at a fancy hotel and hang out with Forrest Griffin and Patrick Cote all weekend long?

Me: Um ... you had me at "fight train."

So there you have it: A quick glimpse into how important decisions are made in this crazy MMA world we all live in.

I'm heading to Toronto on Friday morning as a guest of our Canadian connection, Director of Media Relations for MMACanada.net and MMAmania.com's own, Sean McManus. Guess you can chalk it up to the perks of being involved with such a fantastic Web site as the one you're currently reading.

All props go to Mania for being the stand-up guy that he is in providing this truly unique opportunity.

The catch? You guys will have to put up with posts and diatribes from me all weekend long, most likely on the following subjects:

How it feels to be picked up from the airport by the UFC's #1 Light Heavyweight Contender Forrest Griffin.
While cornering (literally) on rails on a Canadian fight train, which tastes better, the King of American beers, Budweiser, or Canada's own Molson?
Who knows how to party UFC-style better, the Yanks or the Canucks?
Which crowd was more insane: Columbus, Ohio's during UFC 68 when Randy Couture came out of retirement to take Tim Sylvia's Heavyweight title, or Montreal, Quebec's during UFC 83: "Serra vs. St. Pierre II"?

The Ultimate Fight Train is sponsored by MMA Fight Gear Canada in association with VIA Rail, Fight! Magazine, TapouT, MMAmania.com, BetUs.com, The Score, The Toronto Sun and a host of other sponsors.

UFC 83 takes place at the Bell Centre this Saturday, April 19. As most of you already know, it sold out faster than any event in UFC history. Canadian fans = hardcore.

In addition to the highly anticipated welterweight title bout, UFC 83's fight card has a ton of middleweight action, as well as several other intriguing matchups. The color commentators will be Mike Goldberg and the UFC's top lightweight contender, Kenny Florian.

The official TapouT afterparty is hosted by Forrest Griffin and Mask, Skyskrape and Punk Ass (aka, the TapouT clothing crew).

As if the timing could get any more strange, just last week I found out that I'm about 1/8 Canadian. No wonder I'm quite fond of Canada's national animal, the beaver.

Looking forward to seeing all you crazy Canadian fans this weekend! Now let's hear from you.

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Comments

Adam, as a Canadian I feel compelled to advise you not to drink Molson Canadian (unless it’s free and available in huge quantities).

by craig on Apr 14, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We’ll settle on Labatt Blue then.

by wagnerav on Apr 14, 2008 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As an avid beer drinker, I recommend you actually drink something with taste. To all our foreign friends, Budweiser is NOT considered ‘king of beers’. It’s piss water at best.

by chefdaddy on Apr 15, 2008 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coors, Alexander Keiths, or Blue..
Never Molson Canadian or piss ass Budweiser..

by Stagger-Lee on Apr 15, 2008 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adam, how ’bout steering that train toward Halifax, N.S. and picking me up..

by DJ on Apr 14, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If they let me in the engine, I’ll see what I can do.

by wagnerav on Apr 14, 2008 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like an absolute blast. And it sucks that I cannot make it. Thanks for filling-in, Adam, it was a real tough sell.

by MMAmania on Apr 14, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mania. You guys are, pardon my french(although im First Nation)F’ing awsome.!!!!! Beers for everyone! :)

by ntvman on Apr 14, 2008 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Adam…you had ME at beaver…my boss came in my office because I laughed out loud…looking forward to it my friend…

Rock star treament is all I can come up with…see you in a few.

by Seamus on Apr 14, 2008 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Can’t wait, Sean. And no more mentioning Labatt, even though it’s my favorite Canadian product since Pamela Anderson.

by wagnerav on Apr 14, 2008 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh yeah, don’t say Labatt’s on the train…they’ll stone us…the official beer of choice for the train will be MGD…

by Seamus on Apr 14, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i’m glad to see the ufc finally in canada. w/ all their great fighters like gsp, cote, stout, macdonald etc., they deserve a great show representing their countrymen like this. its to bad cote is hurt and the crow couldnt come back for one more, but gsp will have the place rockin. the ufc def needs to go back to BRAZIL! as well w/ all their great contigance in the org. let nog and a.silva defend their belts and add wandi that would be as huge as gsp in canada. hawaii needs to be represented as well, even though they are american a fight card down there w/ b.j. , rude boy and even kendall grove woulsd sell out the 40,000 seat aloha dome. going back to japan would be nice as well but i think thats gonna be a while. 1rst and foremost though the ufc needs to come to the lou! st.louis, mo would sell out any arena before the tickets even went on sale. HA!

by b.w. on Apr 14, 2008 1:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If they did have a UFC in Japan or Brazil, would they change the rules at all? No gloves in Brazil. Kicks to the head in Japan.

by Toms Bombs on Apr 14, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

no, i think all the same rules would apply according to the nsac since the ufc as an organization is still based out of nevada. i could be wrong though, im no super geniuos or are i?

by b.w. on Apr 14, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thats awesome man, If I wasn’t a recovering alcoholic I would love to visit Canada again, but since drinking and getting whores is all there is up there I’ll pass. Go Serra, Go Bisping and go all the other weak as fights set up just to put canadiens on the card (which I can respect!!)

by kevin on Apr 14, 2008 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

McCarthy: “If Bisping’s the biggest win of my career it’ll be a sad day…”
Off topic, but find it funny how much this guy is talking. I can’t wait until Bisping kills him. Quote was on ufc video.
LOL at how much press mcarthy and mcdonald are getting

by kevin on Apr 14, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is gonna be awesome boys. Enjoy the Fight Train and the weekend. I was one (of probably quite a few) who couldn’t land tickets to this one. That’s alright though, I’m sure Wegz here in Toronto will also be bumping.

GSP via GNP rd 1. (Just think of Serra as Sherk and do the exact same thing.)

by tripleainto on Apr 14, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If you want check out The Diesel Playhouse in downtown T.O. We have a viewing party there for every PPV. Thiago Alves is hosting this one…it’s a great opportunity to hang out with the fighters and it’s only 10 bucks. Cheers.

by Seamus on Apr 14, 2008 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As an experience Canadian beer drinker I’d heavily suggest Labatt products, or Moosehead over Molson… Molson’s not bad, but Labatt actually brews Bud, so give that a try… It’s got an extra percent of alcohol in it… Good shit, have fun!

by Joe Osborne on Apr 14, 2008 2:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as a fellow well versed canadian beer drinker, i would also suggest Labatt over Molson. personal preference – but if you’re going to go with one of the big brewers – hit up some labatt.

and, for the record, anyone who has seen either of the Canadiens games so far at the Bell Centre (or experienced Montreal in general) knows that building on the 19th will put UFC 68 in Columbus to shaaaame.

by andy on Apr 14, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If the Montreal MMA fans are a quarter as nuts as the hockey fans you are in for a treat.

The hockey fans there are the greatest fans in any sport.

by Mike C. on Apr 14, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d have to agree there. They did a vote by the players and Montreal was voted by the NHL players association as the best fans in the NHL. GSP said it best when he said my people will go crazy. They will go nuts and I can’t wait to go. GSP will come out and put on a show for us. If he somehow doesn’t win (which I’d bet money won’t happen) I’m getting the heck out of there cause I think it’ll be real ugly.

by Shadyone33 on Apr 14, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not the best UFC card, but the train ride sure makes up for it! Enjoy Man!

by john on Apr 14, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d have to put my vote in for Molson products over Labatt products. I’d give it to Canadian over Blue.

by tripleainto on Apr 14, 2008 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This Fight Train thing sounds cool. But I will be driving my car from Ontario..Damn I wish I got a ride from Toronto to Montreal on this Fight Train/.