Huge news for Canadian MMA

sitnspin · 08-15-2006, 08:07 PM

As it stands, MMA is still unsanctioned in Ontario, but it's been legal for a while in Quebec and some of the prairie and Atlantic provinces. The catch has been that they've allowed a ring, but not a cage.

Until now. TKO has secured government permission to hold their next event this September, in a UFC-style octagonal cage.

This is awesome, but what's even more interesting is that the UFC has the octagon legally protected, so no other organization can use one without their express permission (it's why you see round cages, square cages, six-sided cages, etc). But they've given the go-ahead for TKO to use one. The main event of the night will be UFC up-and-comers Mark Hominick and Ivan Menjivar, and Sam Stout's on the bill too.

My take on this is they're in favour of TKO having it, because they want to support caged fights in Quebec so that they can hold an upcoming UFC card there. This particularly makes sense when there's a very good chance that their next welterweight champion will be a Montreal homeboy, David Loiseau's on the comeback, and their LW division features a couple of Canadian hotshots.

It's already been announced that Hughes-GSP II will be in the States, but won't it be sweet when GSP gets to defend his belt in front of a hometown crowd? Oh yes it will...

Bomber · 08-15-2006, 08:30 PM

Great news for sure. It's too bad Ontario is so stodgy.

L0cusT · 08-15-2006, 09:53 PM

TKO presisent Stephan Patry wanted ufc 63 to be in mtl but at this time only rings were authorized...it was a matter of time...but now its too late, ufc 63 is gonna be in anaheim and well see in the futur, i hope gsp will be on that card...maybe for his first title defense?

Jras0001 · 08-15-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L0cusT

TKO presisent Stephan Patry wanted ufc 63 to be in mtl but at this time only rings were authorized...it was a matter of time...but now its too late, ufc 63 is gonna be in anaheim and well see in the futur, i hope gsp will be on that card...maybe for his first title defense?

I really hoped that they would permission to use the octagon so that the UFC 63 show could be held in Monteal. I live about 4 hours south of there and would have liked to go and see the show. Maybe a future show though. It sucks as well for Montreal because of the revenue that a show might have brought into the area. It might not have been a blockbuster but it would have generated some heavy spending in the area I would think.

sitnspin · 08-16-2006, 12:56 PM

True, but this is a step in the right direction. And hopefully if the UFC moves into Quebec and the events go well, Ontario will get on the bandwagon. Carlos Newton's IFL team is going to be the Toronto Dragons, and it sucks that they won't be able to hold an IFL event anywhere near Toronto. Maybe in the near future, though. Things are all falling into place, with the changes in Quebec, TSN carrying Apex events, Sportsnet carrying the IFL, Newton's team, etc. And Dana is really serious about campaigning to change the politician's minds.

Bomber · 08-16-2006, 02:47 PM

Once MMA becomes a little more popular and Ontario politicians smell money they'll jump in.

FightFan23 · 08-16-2006, 03:41 PM

This is the best thing I have heard in a long time. being from Canada there is NO DOUBT I would fill my car and attend any UFC in Quebec. GSP first Title Defense (given that he does win the WW title) in his home town. Perfect!