Watch: For the first time ever, professional mixed martial arts makes its way to Saskatchewan. Kim Thue looks at who will be on the card for the Aug. 23 event in Saskatoon.
SASKATOON – For the first time ever, professional mixed martial arts is making its way to Saskatchewan. It will be the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s biggest MMA promotion, who will be putting on the ground breaking event on Aug. 23 at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon.
“Our mandate was to take our sport, our athletes and our brand to as many parts of this great country as possible,” said Tom Wright, UFC’s executive vice-president and general manager of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“We’ve been all across Western Canada, but we had this spot in the middle called Saskatchewan that we hadn’t been able to bring our province to.”
Saskatchewan was one of the only remaining provinces or states in North America where professional MMA was deemed illegal. After legislation changed and a commission was put in place, it was only a matter of time until the UFC planted their roots.
“When you are dealing with regulatory agencies and governments, things take time. We are a very patient and determined organization and we felt it was a matter of when, not if,” said Wright.
READ MORE: Saskatoon to host its first ever UFC event in August
For the athletes who will be competing on the UFC Fight Night Card in August, being a part of history makes it that much more exciting.
“You always want to be a part of history of something,” says UFC welterweight Patrick Cote, who will be fighting Josh Burkman at the event.
“The UFC is the best organization in the world and they go to the best places in the world. They’ve been working a couple years to come here (Saskatoon), and finally they made all the pieces together.”
“This is a dream come true,” adds UFC featherweight Charles Oliveira, who is headlining the event alongside Max Holloway.
“It’s always been my dream to be at a very high place. I’m very excited to be in this beautiful city of Saskatoon where they have never held a UFC event.”
Max Holloway, the fifth ranked featherweight in the UFC, agrees with his opponent. “To headline the first ever card at some place is a whole different animal. It’s just a blessing. I can’t wait to do it.”
With the Ultimate Fighting Championship making its way to Saskatchewan, the door also opens up for future events in the province, which is only good news for the sport and the fighters who compete in it.
“It allows the local athletes to understand and see the pathway to excellence that they can have,” said Wright.
“We may not come every year. We may not hold five or six event every year, but there are others that will. It’s going to help the development of the sport because more and more organizations can bring their athletes and bring different events here.”
Tickets for “UFC Fight Night : Holloway vs. Oliveira” go on sale to the general public, Friday June 26 at 10 a.m. CT.
Confirmed fights for “UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Oliveira:
- Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira – main event
- Rick Story vs. Erick Silva – co-main event
- Patrick Cote vs. Josh Burkman
- Maryna Moroz vs. Valerie Letourneau
- Chris Kelades vs Chris Beal
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