Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: News And Other Updates Leading Up To Pats-Giants

Report: UFC 115 from Vancouver could be in jeopardy

Generalmotors_place-full_medium_medium

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) already penciled in a place, date and time for its first-ever trip to Vancouver after the local city council recently passed a two-year "trial" period to regulate mixed martial arts.

Most of us are expecting to see Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz square off for a third time in the main event of UFC 115 from the GM Place on June 12, while Mirko Cro Cop and Pat Barry get busy on the main card alongside Ben Rothwell and Gilbert Yvel.

Not so fast.

Vancouver resident, former professional fighter and mixed martial arts activist Paul Lazenby was on hand at yesterday's (March 2) meeting of the Vancouver Athletic Commission to inquire about obtaining his promoter's license as well as get more information about the upcoming Zuffa event.

From "The Mauler" (via his official blog):

Star-divide

"In spite of Vancouver City Council's approval of a two-year trial period for MMA, I found out that there are still no regulations in place to promote the sport professionally within the city. The problem lies in the fact that the city is still expressing grave concerns about legal and financial liability, while movement toward a resolution of those concerns appears to have been extremely sluggish. At one point, newly-elected VAC chair Mirko Mladenovic (a supporter of properly-sanctioned MMA) asked Mr. Hammel when the legal issues might be resolved, to which Mr. Hammel replied, "About two months" in a manner that indicated to me that it may be even longer."

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time the UFC has been faced with the possibility of pulling an event from Canadian soil. UFC 97: "Redemption" was all set for April 18 in Montreal until former PRIDE punching bag James Thompson ran amok at the Strikebox fiasco and exposed the holes in the existing regulation.

Of course Zuffa went to Defcon 1 and was able to save the event, thanks largely in part to the thousands of fans that had already purchased tickets -- and the serious financial benefits the city was expected to gain.

But UFC 115 is still over three months away, and Lazenby suggests there's still a lot of red tape to cut through before the world's largest fight promotion can get to Vancouver.

"Paradoxically, Mr. Hammel also said that an MMA event could technically be held at Vancouver's PNE Fairgrounds, which have previously hosted major events by bodogFIGHT and Elite Fighting Championships, but added that such an event would be subject to the approval of the PNE board, who have turned every inquiring promotion down flat including Edmonton's MFC and eastern Canada's Elite-1. Hearing all that I damn near stopped breathing, since it would mean that unless something changes, and quickly, then our UFC event is already dead in the water."

Like UFC 97, it's hard to imagine the UFC not springing into action -- if they haven't already. Canadian fans account for 15 to 20 percent of the promotion’s business, which Zuffa brass call their largest per capita success story. Hopefully they can identify the areas of concern that have surfaced courtesy of Lazenby and take the appropriate action.

The show must go on!

Stay tuned.

Comment 39 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

wow.. this is still happening???

I thought the UFC would have crossed all the T’s and dot’d all the i’’s.

At the end of the day Vancouver still has to pay off all of it’s Olympic debt and this is an obvious vehicle to throw some serious cash at that problem. Van city will happen.

Good post JH, interesting.

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 10:07 AM EST reply actions  

I can't see that they would can the show

I’m sure Dana will get it done, and if it doesn’t happen then Dana will doubtless throw his toys out of the pram and vow to never work in Vancouver again.

Fedor with a gun... ULTIMATE DANGER!!!

by Spinning Fat Kick on Mar 3, 2010 10:22 AM EST up reply actions  

no worries

If the UFC has proven anything over the years, it’s that they have no shortage of lawyers. They spend more on lawyers than they do on fighters and they’re not gonna drop the ball on a money-factory like Montreal.

by (shonuff) on Mar 3, 2010 11:17 AM EST up reply actions  

I knew you would be the first to post BZ! lol

I was under the impression that the host Olympic city got mad cash from it. Is that not the case? Why have it then? I would think that just from tourists that millions woyuld be spent.

by MBOW on Mar 3, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions  

They(all countries that host an olympics) have to build stadiums, pay for security etc. etc.

Hosting an Olympics always costs money they don’t make money.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions  

what Jay said

Olympics help pay for new things and new infrastructure but the cities are always left paying off the rest. I think someone told me the actual games cover about 30% of the investment. Which isn’t bad.

Look at Lake Placid.. I go there every couple of years and always enjoy the Olympic side of life that still remains

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 12:06 PM EST up reply actions  

Thanks for the info!

I can’t believe it’s that expensive to host the Olympics! You would think most places (esp in this economy) wouldn’t want it.

by MBOW on Mar 3, 2010 2:36 PM EST up reply actions  

Is it just me that wonders if the UFC may have paid some people to make sure no one steals their thunder in Vancouver? Shut out everyone else until they can arrive in glorious fashion… just a thought.

by Gentleman on Mar 3, 2010 10:27 AM EST reply actions  

Time to move the show. Is Seattle or Portland available?
The UFC could put some sort of discount for Vancouver residents on the ticket price to help sooth the pain.

by Reciprocity on Mar 3, 2010 10:35 AM EST reply actions  

here comes some shit my way..

gee, someone dies on the Olympic course..but mma is too dangerous to back..because of legal shit?? come on!!! there are too many plus’s to not have ufc events in vancouver..man peoples heads are so far up their asses..it’s sad.

by sarah- on Mar 3, 2010 10:58 AM EST reply actions   1 recs

Be calm Sarah it will happen and I will be there

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 11:02 AM EST up reply actions  

well if the cards shapes up..i might go too..

but as it stands..i dunno, 8 hours of driving seems too much an effort for it so far..

by sarah- on Mar 3, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions  

I wouldn't drive 8 hours for this card as it stands right now.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 11:56 AM EST up reply actions  

nor I

Althought this is the first i’ve heard at CC vs Pat Barry and Yvel vs Rothwell.

Those are interesting but I wouldn’t drop everything to see it.

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions  

It’s more like 20 something for me. God willing I’ll be there. Unless I want to wait from UFC250: Fargo ND

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions  

for*

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions  

I hope they add some good fights to this card for you bbbb.

20 hours is a helluva drive. BZ, lucky the Montreal card doesn’t look as bad as this one, I would have a hard time talking my wife into letting me go to Montreal because I need to see Chuck and Tito. She was only sold on my going because of Patrick(she knows I need to see Patty live before I die).

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 12:21 PM EST up reply actions  

I got family in Richmond so I can stay with them which would be nice. Van. is beautiful and I haven’t been there in 10 years. I would have lots to do there besides the fights. Plus when I leave I’ll be leaving with a lb of B.C.’s finest

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions  

And thats the argument I’ll be using against my gf lol

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions  

LOL

Can’t argue with that logic.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 12:53 PM EST up reply actions  

yeah

Montreal is looking like a solid AA card.

Can’t say AAA yet but if these guys turn in great performances than who knows.

Oddly Im even looking forward to the Kimbo fight. If I can I am throwing down the challenge from BOW.

We can do it in my back yard.

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 12:57 PM EST up reply actions  

Challenge from Bow?

I don’t mind the Kimbo fight, as long as it isn’t on the televised portion of the evening. No way Kimbo and Meathead deserve to be televised and not the Stout fight.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 1:19 PM EST up reply actions  

Bow is throwing down the gauntlet and calling Kimbo out. Just a joke from the other day.

It is absolutley retarted how Sam Stout gets used in the UFC. FOR SURE he should be on TV. But how do you justify keeping “mr ratings” off a PPV.

Who are you rooting for? I have to go with Meathead

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions  

Rooting for? Nobody. Who do I think is going to win? Meathead for sure.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 1:52 PM EST up reply actions  

I’m going with Kimbo via Kimboplex

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions  

I loved that slam. I never thought in a million years I would see Kimbo do something like that.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions  

I wonder what the odds are looking like. I think Kimbo comes in the heavy favorite which would be pretty funny. Kimbo Slice in the UFC and a favorite…. oh what a world

JASONFAHQ is a troll

by bigbadbunbun on Mar 3, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions  

I would think Metrionne(sp?, ah who cares how you spell it) would have to be the fave.

Who would Kimbo be a betting favorite against in the UFC HW division. He does fight HW right?

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions  

fav against

Fav against Anthony Perosh the hippo

I only mention this because they gave that guy deal after his loss. They have to use him at least once.

by Bigger Zino on Mar 3, 2010 2:39 PM EST up reply actions  

Never even thought of that guy( I wonder why, lol)

I bet Kimbo would kill that guy.

canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania

by jay. on Mar 3, 2010 2:46 PM EST up reply actions  

Vancouver in jeopardy. What a bad news for Canadian folks.

"Once Flamengo, Flamengo until die"

by Eduardo Cruz on Mar 3, 2010 12:15 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Garth-knight_small
An important message for MMAmania.com readers
Venetian_mask_small
New Blackfly Comic- The Kimbo Conspiracies Part 30
Lion_small
To Your Health Maniacs: The Cleanse
Garth-knight_small
Underwater 'UFO' resembling Millennium Falcon found in the Baltic Sea
Ug_small
Legalize It!!!!!

Recent FanPosts

Nick_nolte_mugshot
!FRIDAY FUN THREAD!
208730_10150164903466743_503301742_7348043_3232767_n_small
UFC 143: Best of the Rest Preview
Lg_small
Fantasy MMA #1 Fedor vs. Cormier
Market_small
Did anybody else notice this?
Ug_small
A Maniac's guide to personal training
Me_2_small
Rolles Gracie Wants to Stay Active in 2012, says Gregor and Igor Both Have Fights in the Works
Gegard-mousasi2_small
MMAFighting.com joins the SBNATION brotherhood

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >


Managers

Garth-knight_small Jesse Holland

Solidsnake_small Geno Mrosko

Mmamania_logo_small Thomas Myers

Editors

Small Andrew Mendez

Mmamania_small Brian Hemminger

File1684_small Sergio Hernandez

Me_small Kevin Haggerty

Authors

What_ho_small Patrick L. Stumberg

5260_120799616881_564821881_3026489_7189708_n_small Adam Guillen Jr.