Sportsnet.ca -- The UFC hopes to make its debut in Canada in January, UFC president Dana White told Sportsnet on Thursday. The event will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
In an exclusive interview from Anaheim ahead of UFC 76, White told Sportsnet's R.J. Broadhead the UFC is planning a card for the first month of the new year. The organization had originally planned on having its first event north of the border this fall, but was unable to find a suitable date due to venue conflicts with NHL hockey.
White said that Georges St. Pierre, a Montreal native and fan favourite who would expect to generate a big draw, likely won't be on the card. St. Pierre's next fight will be for the welterweight title, against the winner of the Matt Serra vs. Matt Hughes matchup following the conclusion of The Ultimate Fighter 6. That fight won't happen until December, which means the winner most likely wouldn't be able to fight again on such a short turnaround.
White added that the UFC will come back to Montreal later in the year with St. Pierre in the main event. "We're planning to come to Canada a lot," said White.
The UFC is also trying to sanction mixed martial arts in all the big centres in Canada. White specifically mentioned Ontario, which is one of only a few provinces where MMA is not sanctioned and the only one outside of the Atlantic provinces.
While the sport is sanctioned in B.C., it is handled by each city through their municipal governments and Vancouver council members on Thursday voted against sanctioning MMA within the city. The council wants the provincial government to create a provincial body to regulate combat sports.
CANADIAN PRESS NOTEBOOK
Chuck Liddell's next opponent will be Wanderlei (The Axe Murderer) Silva if the former light-heavyweight champion gets past Keith Jardine on Saturday night.
"Everyone's been talking about Liddell vs. Wanderlei forever," White said. "Obviously that's the fight that makes sense, it's the fight that everybody wants to see.
"If Keith wins, we'll figure out what's next for Keith. Maybe it's Wanderlei."
Liddell also wants another shot at Quinton (Rampage) Jackson, who took his title away at UFC 71 in May.
DRUG WARNING : White says any fighter who takes steroids or illegal drugs is a "complete moron."
White plans an October summit with his fighters to discuss the issue but he is not sure what more he can do on the subject.
"What should I do? Should I wake up every day and call these guys. ... `Don't smoke weed today. don't use steroids, don't snort coke, don't beat up your girlfriend, don't drink and drive.' I mean this is all stuff that's common sense."
White noted that fighters suspended for drug use lose their ability to make a living at the sport from eight months to a year.
"They disappear for a year. I don't know how they do. I don't know how they make ends meet."
White, meanwhile, said he believes lightweight champion Sean Sherk when he says he didn't take steroids.
"I've know Sean Sherk for almost eight years," White said. "He has looked exactly the same for eight years. His physique has never changed. ... I trust him, I believe him. He's a good man."
Sherk is appealing his positive test from UFC 73 in California.
HAWAIIAN FIRST : White says he expected Hawaii to host the first UFC show in a football stadium. The TV ratings for "The Ultimate Fighter" apparently are sky-high there. "Every season it's like every guy with a TV in Hawaii is watching `The Ultimate Fighter.' It's insane.
"Plus it's one of those places that's halfway between Japan and the United States. Everybody likes to go to Hawaii, so it makes sense."
Hawaii needs to sanction the sport, however, and White reckons that won't happen until 2009.
