UFC
UFC NEWS: UFC now looking at April debut in Toronto; wanting to break records with Rogers Centre event
Oct 16, 2010 - 2:00:42 PM UFC NEWS: UFC now looking at April debut in Toronto; wanting to break records with Rogers Centre event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

While it looked like the UFC might make their Ontario debut in March of 2011 after tentatively booking a date at Toronto's Rogers Centre in the month, UFC co-owner and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta says the organization is now targeting April for the event.

At a fan Q&A at the UFC Fan Expo in London, Fertitta discussed the UFC's preliminary plans for the event.

"We're looking at I think sometime in late April," Fertitta said (quotes transcribed at MMAJunkie.com). "We're trying to figure out right now who is going to be on that card. We definitely want to put on a big show, and we'll probably have a title shot on that card."

UFC President Dana White has been non-committal on the potential for a UFC event in a larger stadium. He's stated multiple times that he wants to keep the integrity of the live event for fans, and doesn't ever want fans to have a vantage point where the fighters look like ants in the center of the arena.

But Fertitta says the UFC is definitely targeting the Rogers Centre, home to Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays, and they're shooting for an attendance record with the event.

"It looks like we're going to try and do the Rogers Centre," Fertitta said. "We looked at [the Air Canada Centre], too, but we want to break the record for attendance to MMA.

"We'll try to get about 40,000 to 50,000 people there."

Penick's Analysis: The UFC is definitely hoping for a Georges St. Pierre win at UFC 124 over Josh Koscheck. They'd never say it publicly, but they want their second biggest draw to fight in Toronto in front of a rabid Canadian fanbase. But another potential blockbuster fight could be in store for this event depending on the outcome of next Saturday's UFC 121 event. If Brock Lesnar defeats Cain Velasquez, his fight with Junior Dos Santos would be huge and, partnered with another GSP title defense, could help shatter any and all gate and attendance records for an MMA event. If the UFC is going to run that type of venue, they'll need a massive card, and they've got to be hoping for Lesnar and GSP to be victorious before the year is out so they are ready for this massive card in April.