UFC
UFC executive Tom Wright expects UFC 140 to mark return to Montreal
May 19, 2011 - 2:00:34 PM UFC executive Tom Wright expects UFC 140 to mark return to Montreal

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Montreal's Bell Centre has become a staple venue for the UFC since the organization debuted in Canada back in April 2008, and according to UFC director of Canadian operations the organization could be returning this December.

During an appearance on Montreal radio show Ringside Report Radio on Wednesday, Wright said that the organization has targeted December 10 as their tentative return date to the hometown of UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre.

"Most likely we'll be back in Montreal on Dec. 10. It would be [UFC] 140," Wright said (transcribed by MMAJunkie.com). "We haven't made any final decisions. There are a bunch of different places not only in Canada but in North America that we're looking at, but we've got a great fanbase in Quebec, and Bell Centre is one of the best venues in North America to hold [an event]."

"We know how important this market is to us and putting on great fights. It's a great venue, it's a great fan-base, it's a great environment. The energy in that building is as good as any building in North America. We'll always have a soft spot for Montreal."

Prior to last month's UFC 129 event at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the UFC's previous best attendance came at the Bell Centre. In fact, the venue is the only other one in which the UFC has broken the 20,000 attendance mark, a feat they accomplished on three of their four trips to the Bell Centre.

Penick's Analysis: The Bell Centre has proven to be a great venue for the UFC, and the Montreal crowd is always one of their best. The Canadian fans are a very large contingent of the UFC's base, and they will continue to run in the key venues to placate those fans. The Bell Centre is likely to be a yearly return for the UFC until such time that the draw dies down there, but it hasn't shown any signs of slowing down yet.