City officials reject bid to return MMA to Vancouver

by Jesse Holland on Mar 26, 2009 10:22 PM EDT

Alberta? Check. Quebec? Check. Vancouver? Not so fast...

Council members today voted against having the Vancouver Athletic Commission (VAC) sanction MMA events in the city of Vancouver located in British Columbia, Canada, according to Sportsnet.ca.

Instead, the council voted to ask the provincial government to take over as the sanctioning body for mixed martial arts, rather than having the VAC control the sanctioning within the city.

The significance? Officials made the same request in 2007 after MMA was outlawed in Vancouver -- and it was denied.

Why the same request would be made again is a bit of a mystery. The lone dissenting opinion, NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton, muses about the economic benefits and what could have been.

Quoteworthy:

"What happened today is we turned down a big economic opportunity for the city of Vancouver. We've been considering the issue of mixed martial arts for some time now in this council. We have a body in place, our athletic commission, a volunteer group, and we have a process in place and I think we are now ready. I think the sport is developed far enough (and) the rules have come along. (MMA) is like the Canucks -- it's sports and it's entertainment. And it's a big economic boost for the city when these big events come along. We turned that away today and we sent it back to our staff to have another look. Who knows when it will come back again? I was really sorry, I thought that the work had gone into it, that we were now in a position that we should proceed."

As Joe Ferraro reports, a moratorium was put in place to give officials time to research the impact the sport would have on the city and whether or not cooperation would be given from all parties involved, from the commission all the way down to the local police.

Vancouver officials responded with an administrative report that painted a very clear picture about the positive benefits of city sanctioning, and neither local authorities nor the VAC objected to the legalization of the sport.

Along with Ontario, Vancouver was a destination the UFC was vigorously pursuing. Vice-President of government and regulatory affairs for the UFC, Marc Ratner, published an open letter in the Vancouver Sun on Wednesday in an effort to persuade the city to consider all the positives of in-house sanctioning.

Here's a snip:

"Every UFC event is sanctioned by the local athletic commission in whatever state or province we are holding the event in, which means all proper medical procedures are followed before, after, and during an event. The medical standards that are applied to boxing are also followed by the UFC for each and every event, and I am proud to say that in the history of the organization, there has never been a death in the Octagon or an injury more serious than a broken arm."

It's unfortunate that this opportunity has been missed. When the fans are demanding it and the commission welcomes it, what else is there to consider?

UFC 105 live from Manitoba! Just doesn't have the same ring to it. See you again in a few years, I suppose.

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Comments

Bullshit. I live in Vancouver and the MMA sanctioning here is nonexistent. Sooner or later it will happen here.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 26, 2009 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

Hope they didnt see the Brandon Wolf or the Corey Hill fight.

by c-war on Mar 27, 2009 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Too bad…. BC (like most of Canada) is missing out. With the economy the way it is now, you would think politicians would investigate every opportunity to keep cash moving.

by DJ on Mar 27, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

As a former Vancouverite, I share your intense displeasure over this ignorant decision. Although it does seem like a messed up situation where individual cities are left to make the call, as opposed to the rest of the country where the mater is provincial. Let’s hope the province wakes up and does the right thing here and takes over sanctioning of MMA, and then friggin’ approve it already. That said, now that I’m in Alberta, I suppose that this makes the chances of the UFC hitting Edmonton or Calgary that much better.

by Canucklehead on Mar 27, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn, as a guy from Vancouver, I’m really sad to see this not get sanctioned. There are some quality gyms here, from Universal (Denis Kang’s gym) to Revolution (Marcus Soares’ gym) to Dynamic. I hope it doesn’t push fights underground.

In addition, we’re missing out on some good revenue in the city’s coffers. When will these councillors get educated!

by Kitsilano on Mar 26, 2009 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

Have you guys seen the first five minutes of the ultimate fighter theres a leak on bloodyelbow

by El Philicutioner on Mar 26, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions

post it up mania

by El Philicutioner on Mar 26, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

This sucks. I live in Vancouver and I would of loved to see an event here. Too bad this city pisses away any opportunities they get.

by PP on Mar 26, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

You can’t be serious about that jab at Manitoba at the very end. Manitoba is a literal MMA hotbed. I train at a club where I live in Calgary and it seems like every weekend we have to send fighters to Manitoba because there are always events going on there. Sure, they don’t have TKO like Quebec or MFC like Alberta but from what I see, they have tons of fights in Winnipeg under the UCW (Ultimate Cage Wars).

When it comes to MMA, Manitoba is no joke. And to have it in a new (relatively speaking) venue like the MTS center would be sick! I garauntee it would sell out faster than any American city. Not to mention Soszynski is from Manitoba…so is Joe Doerksen (even though they suck somewhat).

UFC 105…live from WINNIPEG!!!

by JB on Mar 26, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions

The problem with Winterpeg is that the two seasons (Winter and Mosquito) pretty much rule out outdoor road work.

by Freddy on Mar 26, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

F^ck Winnipeg bring it too Regina more peaple show up to sporting events in a city ten times as small. Winnipeg Jets Hello? I was in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Estevan and Regina between a two year span and Regina was by far the best. There City has more peaple show up to a Football game than a City ten times the size? Edmonton most likely would be the best place in Canada they already have MMA there and every 20th guy is from Regina? Any sporstman out there there is no better place to hunt or fish than Saskatchewan.

by Beaver on Mar 27, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions

you can’t be serious. regina over winnipeg? the reason everyone shows up for football games in “vagina, saskatchewan” is because there isn’t anything else to do. plus, there isn’t really a strong mma crowd in saskatchewan that i’ve heard of.

i agree that edmonton would be better than winnipeg though. but the article chided manitoba which was uncalled for given the strong mma community that obviously exists there based on the sheer number of events.

by JB on Mar 27, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Fishing and football, great, too bad this is about MMA. Between UCW and CFC there are shows running almost monthly in Winnipeg, you can’t say that about Regina. And there were a sick amount of people that went to UFC 87 in Minneapolis from Manitoba.

by H on Mar 27, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions

This is crazy, I live in Vancouver and I go to every UFC Card at local bars. They"re four different bars that I go to throughout Vancouver. Each time the bars are packed and seem to generate a lot of money. I’ve been attending these events for the past two years and I have never seen a problems at them.
I don’t understand this debate.
Boxing has been around Vancouver for a long time, what is the different?
All this comes down to is, a lack of education.

I’ve seen two of the most violent hockey instances in Vancouver.
Todd Bertuzzi Punched Steve Moore in the back of the head which resulted in breaking his neck and ending his career.

Marty McSorley almost killed Donald Brashir by hitting in the back of the head with a hockey stick.

This is just crazy!!

by luke on Mar 26, 2009 11:50 PM EDT reply actions

LOL I’m from winterpeg manitoba, and was just at the MTS center today funny coincidence. The only event that I’ve been to at the MTS center was a rock concert billy idol and def lepord. I’ve never been to a UFC event and that would be great if they came here, I would go foresure. I saw herb dean last year at palimino’s night club and spoke to him for a bit, it was pretty cool he’s a little shorter than I thought he would be, atleast a couple inches shorter than me I’m 6’2. There having the world of wheels here tomorrow at the convention center and rich franklins going to be there, I’ve never actually met a UFC fighter before and I’m thinking of going. The UFC would have no problem selling tickets here and it would sell out faster than most would think, its in our governments hands though.

by nathan on Mar 26, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

I too am from Vancouver. The council is basically judging a a book on it’s cover. They see a few MMA fights and hear about it thinking “oh it’s violent”. When it’s really not. Someone really needs to educate them on what MMA really is. MMA is HUGEEEEE down here!GM or BC Place would easily be sold out. Think of all the positives that come along with a UFC event being held in Vancouver. Not just the negative shitt.

by Little Focker on Mar 27, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

haha i’m from van and as much as I want a ufc or any mma event held in vancouver, lets be real… there’s no way the ufc is selling out BC place. not even if anderson silva, gsp and fedor have a triple threat match

by Danza Macabra on Mar 27, 2009 2:22 AM EDT up reply actions

BC Place can supposedly seat up to 60K.. It’d be the biggest UFC ever .. but yah.. no way it’d sell out..

by 604Sambo on Mar 27, 2009 2:51 AM EDT up reply actions

“an injury more serious than a broken arm”

umm….corey hill’s injury was much more serious than a broken arm.

by mctapout on Mar 27, 2009 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

Not really. They are both broken limbs. It is not like Hill’s broken leg was life threatening. It was bad looking and very painful, but not especially dangerous. Certainly not like an ice skate across the jugular.

by naturalshadow on Mar 27, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Being from BC, I guarantee the first show at GM place would sell out as fast or faster than the show in Montreal last year.

GSP is one of the most famous athletes in Canada, especially amongst women. They love him like a fat kid loves cake.

As long as GSP is champion they can have a card anywhere in Canada and sell it out in a week.

With UFC events and the Olympics around the corner, they could be generating hundreds of millions of dollars in Vancouver, they just need a proper sanctioning commitee and the right kind of push (see: bribes) to certain officiating and governing bodies.

by DirtyML on Mar 27, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

You guys are acting like this is the end of MMA in Vancouver; it’s not. How do we know the province will reject the request again?? And if/when the province accepts, we would have much more professionalism and possibly cashflow.

by B. on Mar 27, 2009 2:21 AM EDT reply actions

I’m from Victoria, this saddens me.

I mean sooner or later it’s gonna get sanctioned, so quit dragging your heels and be progressive.

The only places it seems they can hold fights is Nanaimo around here (which is my home town), but it’s a pain to go there to see..

by ShaiZ on Mar 27, 2009 2:42 AM EDT reply actions

I live on vancouver island and this is soo shitty. Hence why I am heading to montreal for a 2nd year in a row..only place in canada to go

by mmafighter11 on Mar 27, 2009 4:49 AM EDT reply actions

i dont get it….

vancouver has an mma event april 4thhttp://www.ringfight.com/northamericanchallenge/NAC24/NAC24-web.jpg

by smogdog on Mar 27, 2009 7:37 AM EDT reply actions

NOOOO! God damn it I wanted to watch it live

I wanted to ask Matt Hughes for an autograph so that he’ll probably tell me to f*ck off (of course he probably wouldn’t come to Canada in the first place) but it could have been a possibility!

by Nikolai on Mar 27, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

They should have an event in Calgary then at the Saddledome.

by Markaveli on Mar 27, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Word!! I know Calgary would come out in full force, all the smaller shows Ive been to have done quite well. It pisses me off that there is never even mention of it.

by the spyder on Mar 27, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions

They’ve probably seen a Flames game and realized that you can hear a pin drop at pretty much any point during the game. Calgarians are the lamest crowd in all of hockey.

by introvert on Mar 27, 2009 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

FYI….Alberta and Quebec are provinces, check. Vancouver is a city

by McArthur on Mar 27, 2009 9:59 AM EDT reply actions

LMAO…I was just about to post the same thing.

MMA Mania isn’t owned and operated by Fox News by any chance is it?

by introvert on Mar 27, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

lol

by McArthur on Mar 27, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I am mystified as to how a group of people in Vancouver still cant see MMA as a major sporting event. Have these people been in a cave for 20 years??? whats up people???

by the spyder on Mar 27, 2009 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

they’re not from our generation and will be dead soon

by McArthur on Mar 27, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Weak sauce..I’m pissed. At least flights from here to Vegas are pretty cheap and maybe if Portland gets UFC 102 or 103 us Vancouverites can drive down there…I would have paid any amount of money to see it here though. Btw-BC Place is getting completely redone as a soccer stadium (for our new MLS team) and will seat 20,000.

by Brand0 on Mar 27, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Such crap. I’m a Vancouverite as well and I hate that we have to drive to other cities to see MMA. Prince George, Chilliwack, whatever…Vancouver is in the spotlight, especially now as we’re hosting the Olympics in less than a year. It’s a desireable destination, the UFC wants to be here, the fans want to be here…

GIVE IT A F***ING SHOT!! WHO ARE WE VOTING FOR HERE!??!

by djmatt604 on Mar 27, 2009 11:57 AM EDT reply actions

Im from Vancouver as well and this decision has DUMB written all over it! Those council members have ignorance all over them! DAMNIT!!!

by TheEder on Mar 27, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions

another bullshit vancouver politics decsision, I have travelled around the world and have lived in california and north carolina, i am canadian and was born and currently live in vancouver, this is one of the most stunning city’s in the world, also one of the most fucked up city’s in the world when it comes to world class sporting events, we need to vote these losers out of power , we have lost the indy race series, the pga tour, and a load of other interesting sporting events, im a proud canadian , and a hugh mma fan, get your shit together vancouver.

by daz on Mar 27, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL nickolia Matt hughes did come to Canada he came to winnipeg manitoba last year, I didn’t go as I didn’t hear about it until after, I saw it on his website. I was still a fan of hughes at the time and would have went not sure I would go now.

by nathan on Mar 27, 2009 3:17 PM EDT reply actions