Unbelievable news for UFC 97
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:16 pm
mmajunkie.com - The UFC's second trip to Montreal Quebec may not go down as expected like the first time they arrived last year in April.
According to a report by Corus Sports.com, Canadian officials have said that the UFC is not welcome for an April return trip to the Bell Centre in Montreal with the organization's current rules and policies.
Réjean Thériault, the communications director for the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which governs alcohol, racing, gambling and combat sports in Quebec, told Corus Sports the UFC's use of elbows and knees to the head do not currently fall in line with commission's policies.
The commission's current policies only apply to boxing, kickboxing and mixed boxing and do not provide regulations on the use of a cage. Thériault told Corus Sports that if the UFC was unable to adapt its own policies to the commission's regulations the company would not be welcome for the April 18 event.
"I don't have enough information right now," Ratner said. "I just know what I've been told, and we're working on it."
Ratner said the UFC was working diligently to ensure the event went on as planned.
"I just know peripherally, and we're getting all the information," Ratner said. "We've got to make it work."
Thursday's revelation was particularly curious considering the UFC held the highest-attended event in company history, "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2." According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC's 2008 event -- attended by over 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales -- until just a few days ago.
Thériault went on to state that there was simply not adequate time to make the necessary regulatory changes in order for the UFC to hold an event in Montreal under the Unified Rules of MMA.
According to an additional report by the Canadian-based Sportsnet.ca, the commission is re-evaluating the rules it uses to govern mixed martial arts after confusion over implemented policies for the Feb. 6 debut show of Stephen Patry's Strikebox. While the event was conducted under standard MMA rules, a supposed "gentleman's agreement" to keep the fights standing was agreed upon by the fighters involved. When main-event competitor James Thompson did not adhere to the alleged agreement, angry fans began peltng the combatants with beer cans and other objects.
The report goes on to state that sources have indicated the commission bay be looking to require "a much smaller cage than the UFC's patented Octagon, prohibiting elbow and knee strikes and requiring that the referee halt a bout should a fighter get knocked down from a strike in order to ensure the downed fighter is okay to continue."
According to a report by Corus Sports.com, Canadian officials have said that the UFC is not welcome for an April return trip to the Bell Centre in Montreal with the organization's current rules and policies.
Réjean Thériault, the communications director for the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which governs alcohol, racing, gambling and combat sports in Quebec, told Corus Sports the UFC's use of elbows and knees to the head do not currently fall in line with commission's policies.
The commission's current policies only apply to boxing, kickboxing and mixed boxing and do not provide regulations on the use of a cage. Thériault told Corus Sports that if the UFC was unable to adapt its own policies to the commission's regulations the company would not be welcome for the April 18 event.
"I don't have enough information right now," Ratner said. "I just know what I've been told, and we're working on it."
Ratner said the UFC was working diligently to ensure the event went on as planned.
"I just know peripherally, and we're getting all the information," Ratner said. "We've got to make it work."
Thursday's revelation was particularly curious considering the UFC held the highest-attended event in company history, "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2." According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC's 2008 event -- attended by over 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales -- until just a few days ago.
Thériault went on to state that there was simply not adequate time to make the necessary regulatory changes in order for the UFC to hold an event in Montreal under the Unified Rules of MMA.
According to an additional report by the Canadian-based Sportsnet.ca, the commission is re-evaluating the rules it uses to govern mixed martial arts after confusion over implemented policies for the Feb. 6 debut show of Stephen Patry's Strikebox. While the event was conducted under standard MMA rules, a supposed "gentleman's agreement" to keep the fights standing was agreed upon by the fighters involved. When main-event competitor James Thompson did not adhere to the alleged agreement, angry fans began peltng the combatants with beer cans and other objects.
The report goes on to state that sources have indicated the commission bay be looking to require "a much smaller cage than the UFC's patented Octagon, prohibiting elbow and knee strikes and requiring that the referee halt a bout should a fighter get knocked down from a strike in order to ensure the downed fighter is okay to continue."
