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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
In what is anything but surprising news, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre will defend his title on April 30 in the main event of the UFC's first ever trip to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Montreal native will meet former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields in the headlining fight of the event at the Rogers Centre, according to UFC President Dana White, who confirmed the booking to The Canadian Press.
St. Pierre successfully defended his title yet again last month at UFC 124 in Montreal, thoroughly out-classing Josh Koscheck en route to a clean sweep on the judges' scorecards for the unanimous decision victory. The win was St. Pierre's fifth straight title defense and eighth straight win overall.
Shields enters the title fight off of a successful return to the welterweight division. After taking a three fight detour above 180 lbs., Shields made his UFC debut at UFC 121 in October, defeating Martin Kampmann by split decision to earn the shot at St. Pierre.
UFC 129 will mark the UFC's first entrance into Ontario, with the province beginning regulation of the sport this year.
Penick's Analysis: Georges St. Pierre and Randy Couture on this card will help it blow away the current attendance record, already held by a St. Pierre headlined fight. But with the UFC planning a configuration for the Rogers Centre of around 40,000+ spectators, I wouldn't be surprised to see them hit that mark in a sell-out. The UFC's first event in the hot-bed that is Toronto was always going to be big, but having the three time "Canadian Athlete of the Year" fighting in front of his home country fans and having the longtime proven draw Randy Couture in what could be his final career fight on top of this one will make for a huge event overall.
[GSP art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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