Joe Ferraro

If the UFC is sanctioned in Ontario, the first event could be in March, 2011.

Coming off their third successful show in Montreal, and with a sold out fourth show next month set for Vancouver, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has made tentative plans to hold their biggest show to date, at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Numerous sources have informed me that the organization has reserved Saturday March 26th, 2011 as their first foray into the province of Ontario. This will also mark the UFC's first event to be held inside a stadium.

The Rogers Centre, with it's retractable roof, can seat over 46,000 fans for baseball and football, but when floor seats are added, the number dramatically increases to over 65,000. The current record for paid attendance is 68,237, set by Wrestlemania X8, on March 17th, 2002.

While UFC President Dana White has often stated he wants fans to enjoy the live UFC experience, and does not want them to experience bouts that look like "two ants on top of a matchbox", it's going to be tough for him not to try and break the WWE's record. He is far too ambitious and competitive to not try and leave his mark on Rogers Centre history.

The UFC's current attendance record is 21,390, set by UFC 83: Serra vs St-Pierre 2. To break the Rogers Centre record would mean they would have to more than triple their existing best that was set at their first show in Montreal. I have often joked with White that in order to do so, he should consider having five title fights on the card; of course, you can imagine what his responses have been.

But I also suggested another option for him to consider.

Two weeks ago, in the bowels of the Bell Centre, I sat with White and suggested the UFC consider amalgamating all weight classes with the WEC. Take the champions from the WEC, and the top contenders, and move them over to the UFC, while taking those who are on the verge of being cut, and send them down to the WEC. This would create a true farm system for up and coming fighters to develop under, while competing against those who have proven their worth, but their stock may be fading.

His response was a positive one, but I believe it would take a lot of work (TV deals aside) to complete such a venture, mind you, one of his favourite quotes has always been "some things take time to get done."

Of course, one key match-up that many believe can break the exhisting record, is the long rumoured super fight between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva and Welterweight Champion, Georges "Rush" St-Pierre. While many hold their breath for this fight to finally take place, both pound-for-pound greats have other fighters to worry about first. For Silva, it's Chael Sonnen on August 7th. For GSP, it's Josh Koscheck, once both fighters are done their coaching stints on season twelve of The Ultimate Fighter.

While the rumoured March 26, 2011 date is only a tentative one, perhaps it was reserved with some internal confidence that their lobbying efforts to sanction Mixed Martial Arts in the province of Ontario are moving ahead as planned, with success just around the corner.

The sport is currently not sanctioned in the province, and as the company continues to speak with federal leaders, in hopes to make changes to Section 83 of Canada's Criminal Code, the other issue is Ontario's Athletics Control Act.

If changes can be made to the definition of "professional contest and exhibition", whereby to include MMA as a sport ,along with the adoption of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, then it's safe to say, shortly thereafter, the Octagon will rest on the same surface as the one used by the Toronto Blue Jays.

The UFC is set to make their "major announcement" on Tuesday, one that I believe will focus on the companies plans to open a corporate office in Ontario, likely in the city of Toronto, but I would not be surprised if many more topics will be addressed by White and majority owner Lorenzo Fertitta, as the curiosity of the MMA media and Canadian fan base has reached an all time high.

To help the UFC in their plight to sanction the sport in Ontario, "MMA DAY", a fan friendly rally for all ages, is being put on by independent organizers, on Saturday May 22nd, at Queen's Park in Toronto, the very front yard of the Provincial Legislature. Yours truly will be in attendance, alongside many UFC veterans and players within the Ontario MMA industry.