(Props: twitter.com/danawhite)
After a 6-3 vote yesterday, the Vancouver City Council passed a resolution to regulate MMA for a two-year trial period. Though a handful of MMA events were sanctioned by the Vancouver Athletic Commission before 2007, the city council put a halt to the sport that year due to concerns over liability in the event of an injury. Since then, unregulated MMA events have popped up around the British Columbian city, some of which were funded by gang money. Now, Vancouver is giving mixed martial arts another chance. Said city council member Tim Stevenson about his "yes" vote:
Reacting to the news, UFC general counsel Lawrence Epstein told the Vancouver Sun, “We’re very pleased with the result. It’s important for this issue to be considered. Once people understand what this sport’s all about, they generally reach this conclusion.”
Following two successful events at Montreal’s Bell Centre, the UFC has long had an eye on Vancouver, and now plans to hold an event at the 19,000-seat GM Place (home of the Vancouver Canucks) in June 2010. And after that? “Ontario’s an important market for us and we’re hopeful we’ll get some momentum from what’s happening in British Columbia today,” Epstein said.
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Comments
Fri, 12/18/09 - 07:44
who gives a fuck about Canada?
Fri, 12/18/09 - 07:46
@Skeletor: Dana White does: " I'm thankful for Canada. Those fans up there are awesome. If the United States MMA market was like the Canadian market, the UFC would be even bigger than it is now." Now go back to drinking your piss water beer.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:00
Something tells me Nate Diaz desperately wants in on this card, and desperately wants all potential bonus money to be paid out in BC bud...
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:12
if they had an event in toronto I bet they would be able to sell out the rogers center. There are so many fight fans in this area its retarded. You may not want to hear UFC being compared to the WWE but lets face it alot of UFC fans were WWE fans when they were kids and Toronto has had some of the highest attendance of all time at WWE shows such as the wrestlemania that was in TO a few years back...all those people are still around and most are UFC fans now
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:17
lol you guys are so ignorant perhaps thats why the entire world wants to blow up the united states.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:18
@ mmiles9000 ----of cock in your mouth shut up dont you dare talk to skeletor that way, you canadian homo. and hes right who cares about canada. everything and body, wants to be america, with out us, ud be nothing and the russians would storm you from the north and take over your worthless country that provides nothing to the world. just french pricks from montreal and hipsters who smuggle "trees" across the boarder to our great NATION!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:19
He said that in an interview with a Canadian news station. Do you think he's gonna shit all over Canada then? I don't think so. You guys could fuck up anything just look at your bacon. You can go fuck yourself with the handle of your curling broom. Aye hoser.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:21
@ newdeal at least we are awesome enough for some1 to want to blow us up. nobody wants to blow up canada cuz its not worth the 15million nuke they would build to make it.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:37
Vancouver now finally has a real sporting event to watch instead of those awful Canucks. Oh and the Olympics too I guess. I like how a little story about MMA regulation turns into a US/Canada pissing match. Great community here.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:42
Its been a while since i layed anything down here, but i thought it was time to once again chime in. Although this is good for MMA fans in Canada, and all the stoners who inhabit the west coast.... MMA has been "good to go" in Alberta for the past two freaking years, and not even a peep from the UFC about an event in Calgary. total BS.. anyone on here from Calgary should blow up Dana's Twitter... and let him no we have a 19000+ seat arena called the "Saddledome" and we can sell that bastard out too. Lets at the very least, be a god dam blip on the radar..or no? Hit it..
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:51
Russia would invade Canada from the North? What, the North Pole? Yeah, watch out, Canadians, Santa is going to kick your Canook asses and you'll find yourselves on the fast track to long toilet paper lines.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 08:52
Vancouver is sanctioned now?? Fuck thats embarrassing...c'mon Toronto, get your shit together! As for the Americans bashing Canada...I always find it funny how you guys choose the lamest Canadian stereotypes to bash. The old plaid shirt, curling, igloo, canadian bacon, hoser jokes. It's kinda weak man, its like me trying to insult someone from NYC with hick jokes. Try a little harder please. K thx
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:00
If it wasn't for America you guys would all be Nazis working for the land of the rising sun after Hitler opened a trans-dimensional gate at Niagara Falls. I hate Canadians and all your Goddamn friendliness and fairness. You just keep that shit to yourselves! I may have to take a trip up to Vancouver to see me some fights but I WON'T enjoy it!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:32
The UFC does more PPV buys, and occasionally stronger numbers overall, in the Canadian market. THAT is why the UFC loves Canada. In a country with 10% of the population of the States, they do better numbers. Canadians like their MMA it would seem. And yes, the UFC should hold an event in Alberta where they have been sanctioned for awhile, the MFC is holding sold out event after sold out event over there with a roster of UFC dropouts and KOTC up and comers. Its just a matter of time, but still, overexposure isnt usually the UFC's concern so I don't know why they don't just get at 'er. I live in BC, and I used to live in Vancouver. Now I live in central Vancouver Island, but its a short drive and a ferry back to the mainland and I would gladly pay to see UFC without having the purchase of a plane ticket involved. Vancouver is an extremely liberal city so I'm glad they have continued that with their decision to sanction the sport. The trial period is a little limp-wristed, but whatever, Vancouver is pretty damn gay as well. LOL I like that the Canadian bashing has started, although some of it clearly in good fun. The great equalizer for all you Americans. Travel abroad and put Canadian Flag badges all over your gear for a few days, then after a few days put American flag badges all over your gear. You may notice a "slight" difference in how you are treated. :)
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:37
@UFCINCALGARY: I agree. I don't know why the UFC hasn't pushed harder for an event in Calgary. Especially considering how much money and what a large audience we have here already. Plus, MMA is already regulated/legal in the province. I'm sure they could sell out the 'Dome no problem.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:39
Oh, and LOL @ the Nate Diaz/BC Bud comment
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:43
America! Fuck yeah! Coming out to save the muthafuckin' day, yeah! Can't wait to have a UFC event where I live. And yeah, UFC should go for Alberta too - given that it's already legal. Lived there for a couple of years. It would sell out in a bloody heartbeat.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 09:53
@Steampunk I spent a year and a half traveling through Europe, India and SE Asia. There's no doubt your "great equalizer" is absolutely true. The problem is, none of these provincial yahoos give a fuck what the rest of the world thinks. It's hard to disagree that most people's opinions basically completely lack good perspective or clarity, wherever they are from, but still, yeah - it indicates that we are probably total assholes much of the time. Second only to Israelis, from what I can tell. And that's pretty much our fault, too.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 10:02
@macreadysshack I think you and I would probably get along, real life stylez. Oh, I just found this out as well actually, apparently the last UFC Event in Montreal sold out in 2 minutes. That is CRAZY.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 10:11
@steampunk22 I think you are probably right . . . How the hell does an event sell out that quickly without crashing servers? That's nuts.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 10:30
"lol you guys are so ignorant perhaps thats why the entire world wants to blow up the united states." ^ Couldn't agree more with this. Sweet, I live in Van and I was waiting for this decision. I can't wait woooo hoooo!!! I'm going to wear my canadian hockey jersey with my beaver hat! I'll probably be chugging some maple syrup at the fights .. Shit is the bomb!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 11:15
@Everyone who thinks UFC should go to Calgary. Holy shit when is the UFC going to realize that despite a smaller population MMA is fucking HUGE in Alberta. I've gone to a couple small shows, but if the UFC came to Calgary it would make money hand over fist. I just don't get how they haven't realized how big a market calgary is. I for one would surrender a nut, probably the left one, to go to a show in Calgary. Two hours away, FUCK YEAH. And yes we know how awesome being Canadian is, but the old stereotype to shit jokes are still funny EH!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 11:56
Yes!!! Im from Vancouver and Im from a gang and I wont have to put up with this shit ANYMORE!! "Big Jumpin Dad" is an imposter! Tell your children!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:03
Fuck Canada and its dangling northward (yes it can be done) from the nutsack of the united states (minnesota). Your best beer isnt really all that great compared to the finer brews in the US and Europe and you are well aware of it. Although I have to say it is laughable that the whole reason the MMA concept was sanctioned in Van was because the organized crime element began to capitalize on it first and the government realized "oh shit we are losing money to be made here" - Sounds like USA wannabe complex to me.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:03
@BigJumpingDad Did you mean he is an "imp-hoser"?
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:11
Haha, more bullshit from Harry Sack. Dude, I thought we were gonna be bros. Now I can see I was sadly mistaken. Your argument is diluted by your head injury. Your arguments for 'fuck Canada': 1. Your best beer isnt really all that great - wow, way to state your position emphatically 2. Blah, blah, nonsense about organized crime . . . "Sounds like USA wannabe complex to me." - Damn, they have some of the same problems as we do? Fuckers are DEFINITELY copying us and copying us is fucking WRONG! Wow, you just blew my mind, I'm going to have to rethink everything, now. Tard. I hope you were just failing epically at sarcasm/facetiousness.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:14
@ProfessorMMA I do not often agree with you but I strongly support your creative use of the word cunt in that post. I also agree that skeletor eats goat ass despite having some pretty good posts.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:15
@ Harry Sack I do agree with you on the beer part. I don't understand why Canadians believe their beer is above and beyond the States'. I say in general the big name beers of Canada are slightly better than that of the US - but not by a whole lot. The only Canadian beer that I do thoroughly enjoy alongside my favorite European beers is Steamwhistle.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:16
@ macreadysshack ahhhhhhh hahahahaha no.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:22
being a vancouverite im happy about this, although im sure tickets will be a cunt to get. ps, skeletor eats goat ass
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:22
Big Jumpin Dad is from Florida and voted for Bush... this year. Also he owns a Ford and 3 Hoola-hoops and a milkshake machine and an imitation frisbee called a flying disc.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:26
there are some great canadian beers and some crap ones.. the thing that bugs me about drinkin brews when i visit the usa is they are only like 4.5% or something, but besides that its so cheap when im down there, a 30 pack of beers for 15 - 18 bucks is sick, a 30 pack up here is like 45 bucks. i love the us, and i was just buggin skeletor, americans are wicked people, so ya fuck terrorists. wow that was all over the fucking place.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:27
Who gives a shit about this dumb argument over Americans and Canadians. It always turns into an argument over who has better dank, beer, women etc.. And no one wins. @ steampunk22- Ive traveled through europe and asia and people jock on our American nuts. Especially throughout asia. I would never wear a canadian flag just to see if there is a difference though.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:28
@BigJumpingDad I'm fucking confused but what I do know is that we obviously need to lynch that MF.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:34
@ macreadysshack yes. hells yes.
Fri, 12/18/09 - 12:37
i am a vancouverite.. born and raised.. on a playground thats where i spent most of my days.. im typing this comment from work in downtown vancouver... i have a sweet view of the city from my office window that overlooks downtown, the suburbs to the east, the water, AND the freaking mountains.. thats right.. we have EVERYTHING here! and now that MMA is sanctioned, MY CITY IS COMPLETE! (ok we could use another basketball team and an nfl team would KICK ASS because im sick of driving down to seattle to watch the seahawks LOSE but i digress).. to all you vancouver/canada haters out there, seriously.. come down to check this place out before you try to shit all over it.. its no coincidence that vancouver is usually rated in the top 5 places to live in the world year after year (Google "Mercer's 2009 Quality of Living survey").. yes i realize that these ratings are highly subjective but when was the last time you saw a US city rated in the top 5 of ANY ranking system? im not hating on the US here.. obviously canada owes much to our neighbours to the south.. but if you try to shit on my city, im obviously going to say something about it.. MMA IN VANCOUVER FOR THE MOTHERFUCKING WINNNN!!!!!!
Fri, 12/18/09 - 01:27
This is great for Vancouver. Of course it will sell out in no time, but I still will never go to a UFC event. Ticket prices are rediculous and there are always much cheaper ways to see the card. I never understand why Americans feel the need to bash Canada. I love my neighbours to the south. And yes all of those "u" s are supposed to be in those words...just like colours and favourite :P
Sun, 12/20/09 - 03:26
Wow, Im crushed... I thought fuck Canada was enough to send a clearly facetious message, my bad. Oh BTW my city - Phoenix always ranks in the top five in kidnapings and douchebags with barbed wire arm band tatoos - just for the record.
Sun, 12/20/09 - 03:27
Wow, Im crushed... I thought fuck Canada was enough to send a clearly facetious message, my bad. Oh BTW my city - Phoenix, always ranks in the top five in kidnapings AND douchebags with barbed wire arm band tatoos - just for the record.
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