Perry Lefko reflects on the UFC phenomenon that has literally taken over Toronto.
Whether or not you are a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship – and there are just as many detractors as there are supporters – one thing cannot be denied: This corporation knows how to put on a show.
And this isn’t even talking about the card that will draw at least 55,000 people to the Rogers Centre on Saturday night in Toronto and will prove, for one night only; Saturday night is alright for fighting.
Since the UFC rolled into town early in the week, it’s been a gradual process of giving the fans everything they want. The Fan Expo on Friday had it all: merchandize, meet-and-greets with the fighters – including those not even on the card – photo ops with the sexy UFC ring girls and question-and-answer sessions with the likes of announcer Bruce Buffer, commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg and UFC president Dana White, among others.
And this is to say nothing of all the UFC-sanctioned parties throughout Toronto.
It’s all designed to give fans their money’s worth – and clearly they’re paying top dollar and then some.
There are still countless people hungering for a seat for the card, which is really what this is all about: seeing in person what up until now could only be viewed in Toronto on pay-per-view.
This is what White promised when he began a campaign to sanction UFC in Toronto. He used every ounce of his energy, willpower and political and financial mite to break down the barriers posed by the province and the Ontario Athletics Commission.
The UFC willingly allowed itself to be sanctioned – as White said on Wednesday, "we love sanctioning" – because it wanted to make sure everything was in place to clear this important hurdle.
How could the province turn down a chance to bring in between $30 million to $40 million in gross revenue for all the business generated by the UFC? Again, you can take a position either way about this form of sports entertainment, but it’s here, it’s now and it has fulfilled a need that was there among a growing number of people of all ages who enjoy seeing this form of mixed martial arts.
The UFC now is what the World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly World Wrestling Federation) was in its heyday in the ‘80s and part of the ‘90s. White has taken elements of the WWE and accented the entertainment. The theme music and the long walks to the stage are taken directly out of Vince McMahon’s handbook.
And similar to the WWE, the UFC is a global business, bringing together fighters from all parts of the world. Arguably the most famous fighter in the UFC now is Georges St-Pierre, whom White says is the most famous athlete in Canada. That may possibly be true from a global perspective because there are parts of the world where hockey great Sidney Crosby is clearly not known.
St-Pierre, who exudes a wholesome image similar to Crosby, is a hero to young kids who may fancy themselves as future fighters. Clearly, the sanctioning of the mixed martial arts in Toronto will create more opportunities for kids taking judo, tae kwan do, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and boxing to possibly consider a future career in MMA. Canada is one of the world leaders for developing MMA talent.
That’s why the UFC card on Saturday night is huge in terms of what it represents. The excitement level is already huge – and the real show hasn’t even started.
