UFC targets show at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on Nov. 21

by MMAmania.com on Apr 17, 2009 9:15 AM EDT

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials once again stormed Massachusetts, attempting to convince lawmakers in the "Bay State" that mixed martial arts regulation is good for them and the state economy ... to the tune of $12.3 million in just one weekend.

The latest dog and pony show appears to have done the trick during a State House hearing held just yesterday. In fact, if all goes according to plan, the promotion will likely stage a major pay-per-view (PPV) event on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, from the TD Banknorth Garden.

Here’s a snip from Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole), the chairman of the public safety and homeland security committee, via the Boston Herald:

"The panel made a great case for what I think is pretty straightforward. The sport is exploding in popularity, but it is existing right now unregulated (in Massachusetts). Boxing has been regulated for decades. It’s about time that we’ve made the adjustment."

Number one lightweight contender and local-area fighter, Kenny Florian, UFC vice president of regulation and governmental affairs Marc Ratner, as well as general counsels Lawrence Epstein and Michael Mersch, comprised the UFC contingent charged with making the case for regulation.

According to the report, "the next phase of the process will be the public safety committee voting to favorably report on the bill, which will pave the way for it to move through the Senate, the House and ultimately land on Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk to be signed into law."

It can’t come soon enough -- Florian, Marcus Davis, Jorge Rivera and Gabriel Gonzaga are just a few of the talented fighters who hail from the region and would more than likely be featured on the card.
And remember that company president Dana White is from "Southie," which means that he would certainly pull out all the stops to ensure that his first-ever trip home would be unforgettable.

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Comments

I hear that the next European country that the UFC is going to conquer after Germany will be FRANCE!

by john on Apr 17, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions

lol. why? i figured they’d go to the Netherlands or Belguim or whatever. But good for them.

If Dana tries to bust out a huge East Coast card for his hometown, i might have to think about going to this one… by then i’d have enough money (i think/hope) to get to another ufc event..

by Synyster on Apr 17, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

when the UFC goes to rome Italy, I will definitely be making the trip. I basically have no family in America, they are all in Rome….I go there at least once a year, so If the UFC goes there I would plan my yearly trip around it!

by john on Apr 17, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

because France is a much bigger country then the Netherlands is.. I’d go to Italy for a Roma game, when the UFC comes around!

by RoB on Apr 17, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

France is a strange choice, but whatever. The more the merrier. Now Boston-that’s wicked awesome. That crowd will be sick.

by DSmith on Apr 17, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Fuck all that Europe poop! Boston!!!! Fuck yea, Boston is and always will be a sick fight town!!!

by Dude! on Apr 17, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

dude, europe owns!..

by RoB on Apr 17, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m calling it now…the main event for this will be Kenny defending his new LW belt against Diego. You heard it here first.

by Buster Bluth on Apr 17, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I posted this yesterday, I got tons of connections in and around boston, if this comes true I may be flying cross country for 2 events this year. Last time I went to a Celtic game I sat court side and didn’t pa y a dime…those type of connections boys. Pats game=inside 50 yard line seating!!

by kevin on Apr 17, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah, well you can grab an extra ticket for me then kevin! im back in mass. for good and cannot wait to have an event at the garden.

by allamerican on Apr 17, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m in. I live 30 miles from Boston and cann’t wait for a Northeast show of any kind.

by Iagoof22 on Apr 17, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

where at, thats about the distance I grew up from boston. south of worcester

by kevin on Apr 18, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Eh, this will only be 3.5 months after UFC 101. If Kenny does win he will take his shots from Penn regardless for sure. Cutting it close.

I am rooting for that to happen though, always like a guy to be able to fight in front of his home town. And if that does happen I am taking Kenny no doubt vs Diego.

by WB on Apr 17, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

They need to head to St. Louis also sometime this year

by tyler on Apr 17, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

There’s the proof that the big bad UFC spends money to pursue other markets for MMA. Marc Ratner, Lawrence Epstein, Michael Mersch all do this stuff out of the goodness from their heart. I don’t hear Affliction, Strikeforce or anyone else there to help, oh, it costs money. Don’t worry the UFC will fight our battles and we’ll benefit anyway.

Oh yeah, I’m a Dana/UFC nut hugger. Let me hear the bashing.

by UFC Champ on Apr 17, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

+ 1 buddy. Dana’s the man.

by Synyster on Apr 17, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

no, Lorenzo Fertitta’s the man!

by RoB on Apr 17, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

Lorenzo is the F’in Man!

by john on Apr 17, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Owners or employees, the UFC works hard to make MMA successful everywhere. All the haters bother me, if the UFC wasn’t so dedicatied, MMA would still be underground and banned everywhere. Say what you want haters, the UFC is in business to make money, and they persue every avenue relentlessly just like every other successful business.

by UFC Champ on Apr 17, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions