Propelled by the impressive viewership of his promotion’s first three events of season four on MTV2, Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney revealed to CagePotato.com yesterday that plans are currently underway to take his show on the road to Canada some time before the end of 2011.
“Earlier today I had a 45-minute conversation with the group that we work with who distribute Bellator programming up in Canada, The Score, about a collection of different venues, sites and dates that we’re going after to try to bring Bellator Fighting Championships to some time in the near future,” Rebney says.
According to Rebney, the decision to hold live events north of the border was an easy one to make, it was just a matter of assembling the right team to look after the logistics of executing such an ambitious endeavor to make sure that all of the necessary arrangements are made to ensure that regular stops in Canada can be made each season.
“We’re live on MTV2 in the United States, we’re in I over 35 countries around the world and we intend to be, and are confident that we will be in Canada shortly — conceivably as early as fall of 2011,” Rebney estimates. “We have a lot of really great people we’re working with up in Canada to bring not just one show, but a whole collection of shows to north of the United States.”
Rebney did not mention which Canadian provinces or cities Bellator is eyeing, but it’s likely that Ontario and Quebec — the country’s two biggest MMA markets — are at the top of the list.
Bellator’s current season, which features tournament brackets in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and light heavyweight divisions comes to a close on May 21, so it’s plausible that if all goes well, Canadian fans will be able to catch at least one live event from the Great Fight North during season five.
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Comments
Wed, 03/23/11 - 11:29
I'd definitely be the first to buy tickets to a Toronto Bellator event. A pair of front row seats would be cheaper than one half-decent seat at UFC 129.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 11:41
Hey Mike, give Bjorn my number. i know you're probably crazy busy with the kids and the dog and the wife and the doing CP reporting on stuff. Just trying to help, yo.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 11:42
How bout' Calgary?
Wed, 03/23/11 - 11:45
I'll probably go if it comes to Toronto. The last few shows had some solid scraps.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 11:48
You know what this means....Bellator Fan Expo! . . And you guys can tell Dana and Arianny to not bother showing up.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:02
EFB cheats. And ReX, you're nuts if you think Russ would've given you a Canadian-eh exclusive.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:18
I cant bring myself to care enough about Bellator or canadia to type anything funny. Sorry.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:24
LOKI >> i am disappoint
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:26
I am really not trying to be an asshole, seriously i'm not, but if GSP were to retire today who else does Canada got that is worth a shit? I only ask because MMA is huge in Cananda and i would have to say largely but not exclusively because of GSP but after that who really is there? Am i forgetting someone?
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:44
That Big Deal guy...Brian Gummo.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:45
Yes but can he fill stadiums and break records headlining and event?
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:46
I don't know, but he does a pretty sweet robot dance.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:46
@Stak40 Kalib Starnes. Dude can run and gun I heard.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:50
OKOK guys i know there are Canandians who can bang and maybe its because i dont live in Canada but GSP seems to be a Canadian Superhero arguably even in the US. With him out the game who replaces him. My logic can definitely be flawed but i figure everybody likes to watch a good fight regardless of race, nationality, sex or religion but i also find myself as an American going for Americans, when all things are equal. The US has plenty of MMA superstars as does Brazil but Canada? Nevermind. Maybe this shit only makes sense in my head.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 12:54
Shit, even Brazilian superstars have a hard time selling out stadiums here. The only American with the same amount of draw is Brock Lesnar.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 01:01
Stak40's right, there's plenty of Canucks who can bang... like Peter North, for example.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 01:03
EFB you make sense. I think the amount of shows that happen here probably has a little to do with that though. If the US was only getting the same amount of shows in the US each year people may be more inclined to travel to see one. Hell i really dont keep track but are there not only two places that they have shows in Canada, at least at the UFC level? And yes dudes robot was pretty dope.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 01:07
agentsmith >> i'm really more impressed with North's finishing ability.
Wed, 03/23/11 - 01:17
Wait I just noticed the ploom on the Bellator mascot's helmet is shop'd to look like a maple leaf,thats pretty clever!
Wed, 03/23/11 - 03:55
[...] CEO, Bjorn Rebney revealed to Cage Potato that Bellator Fighting Championships has plans to take the show to Canada by the end of [...]
Wed, 03/23/11 - 05:53
Man I hope they come to Edmonton.. it's probably a long shot but i'd be there... I'd even drive down to calgary to watch a bellator show... Mark Hominick is Canadian and he's pretty good I'd have to say
Wed, 03/23/11 - 09:52
Pamela Anderson is Canadian, and she is great at banging, Took on Tommy Lee, and Fucked him up, took on Kid Rock,....and fucked him over,....best Banger from Canada EVA! Never mind
Thu, 03/24/11 - 10:10
[...] champion Hector Lombard and UFC vet Falaniko Vitale. (Sherdog)Bellator execs are planning to have the promotion’s first event in Canada before the end of 2011. (Cage Potato)Bellator’s ratings for their most recent event on MTV 2, [...]
Mon, 11/07/11 - 05:21
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