Watch above: Ultimate Fighting Championship events could be featured in Saskatchewan but there are a few battles to be won first. Kim Thue looks at when UFC may be coming to the province.
SASKATOON – In early October, Nova Scotia became the sixth Canadian province to host an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event. In 2015, it’s possible Saskatchewan could be the seventh.
“There’s an absolute possibility. In fact it’s something I’ve been working on for quite some time,” admits Tom Wright, the managing director for UFC Operations in Canada.
“It’s a matter of when, not if and the when might happen in 2015.”
Wright says he’s visited Saskatchewan several times over the past months. He’s been in Regina to deal with the government and Saskatoon to scout out a possible venue.
“We haven’t made any final decisions but from the perspective of you have one chance to make a first impression, it probably would be the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon,” said Wright.
There were rumours of a possible “Fight Night” card on Feb. 22 at SaskTel Centre, but that will not come to fruition. Wright says the UFC is still waiting to get more feedback from the government and that’s what is frustrating to the UFC’s lone fighter from Saskatchewan, Mitch Clarke.
Clarke, from Saskatoon, has compiled a 2-2 record inside the Octagon and was hoping for a February fight in his back yard. He blames the provincial government for still not having a commission in place to make that happen, despite the UFC’s best efforts to break into the market.
“I’ll believe it when I see it that we have a commission so Saskatchewan can put on fights,” says Clarke. “I don’t think it’s fair that we are so far behind everyone else when UFC obviously want to work with us. It’s just another disappointment with the province.”
While Clarke voices his frustration, Tom Wright has a different view on the lack of a commission.
“If we come to Saskatchewan, it’s not like we’re going to be there five times a year or we might not come back for a year or two, but there is going to be other organizations that will,” said Wright.
“We want them to be held to the same standards. We’re fine with the government taking it’s time and making sure they are comfortable with all the regulatory requirements.”
It may not be coming early in the New Year, but it certainly does look like the UFC is closer than ever to making a stop in the Land of Living Skies.
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