UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

[BlueNGold]

Well this is strange:

http://tsn.ca/mma/story/?id=315955

A planned UFC show in Vancouver in June is on the ropes, apparently due to insurance and other issues.

A source told The Canadian Press that the show has been called off and the mixed martial arts promoter is looking at Cincinnati as a possible replacement city.

The UFC has not officially announced the Vancouver card, other than to say that it planned to go there in June. The show had been pegged for June 12 at GM Place.

UFC president Dana White said he could not comment on any issues affecting Vancouver. But a second source said the two sides had yet to resolve insurance and other indemnification matters.

While the UFC has convinced more than 40 U.S. states to create or amend legislation sanctioning the sport, the situation in Canada is far murkier.

The Criminal Code offers an exemption of sorts to boxing but not mixed martial arts and that apparently is the sticking point in Vancouver, where the city wants adequate protection in terms of insurance.

Across the country, there is a hodgepodge of provinces and jurisdictions that permit the sport. Vancouver was one of them until city council withdrew its support while the matter was studied further.

In December, Vancouver city councillors voted six to three to approve a two-year trial period for MMA, opening the door for a UFC show that could generate millions for the local economy.

But under the pilot program, promoters must ensure the city can't be held liable for damages.

Mark Pavelich, head of Edmonton-based promoter Maximum Fighting Championship, said at the time that insurance costs could be a problem.

Pavelich called Vancouver authorities after the December vote to try to apply to hold a show.

"They didn't give me the exact sum but the impression, the sense, the way they were speaking, was that it's going to be a significant amount of insurance, way more than any of us pay anywhere else and the premiums would be gigantic," Pavelich said Monday.

"They basically made that very clear to me."

The UFC has already held two successful shows in Montreal and is pressing to have Ontario sanction the sport.

Cincinnati served as host to UFC 77 in October 2007.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

I'm actualy glad 115 isn't happening (assuming the UFC is coming back in the future). I think the card is pretty bad.

I would rather see the young stars/current champs than all the veterans that will fight at 115.

[goh]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

The "mixed boxing" backdoor doesn't work here?

[Wet Bandit]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

I'm actualy glad 115 isn't happening (assuming the UFC is coming back in the future). I think the card is pretty bad.

I would rather see the young stars/current champs than all the veterans that will fight at 115.

I think 115 looks pretty good. The main event is somewhat lacking, but even that is a storied rivalry that will have insane levels of heat going into it and the crowd is guaranteed to be electric during that fight.

That undercard is awesome, though. Barry/Crocop is an interesting new blood/old blood fight. Rothwell/Yvel should be good for a heavyweight slugfest. Undefeated Evan Dunham gets a serious test against Tyson Griffin. And Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann are both top ten WWs currently in their prime.

There's not a fight on that main card that isn't intriguing in some way.

[sven]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

The main card would look a lot better if they replaced Rothwell/Yvel with Condit/Macdonald IMO. Hell I'd rather even see Wiman/Danzig.

[BlueNGold]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

http://tsn.ca/mma/story/?id=316082

The UFC may be headed to Vancouver in June after all.

One day after an informed source said the show could end up in Cincinnati instead, the UFC's vice-president of regulatory affairs said negotiations continue to stage UFC 115 at GM Place on June 12.

"The demise of the fight has been greatly exaggerated," Marc Ratner told The Canadian Press from Las Vegas on Tuesday. "And we are still working on it.

"We're working with the mayor, with the city council, trying to come to an agreement and I still feel strongly, as I've been saying over and over again, I'm still bullish on June 12 as the date."

That's encouraging news to Vancouver officials like Coun. Kerry Jang, who was caught by surprise by reports Monday that the show was on rocky ground.

"We didn't hear anything directly (from the UFC)," he said. "My phone lit up and I went 'What the heck?"'

Jang says the sticking point for the show is between the city and insurers and the province, not the UFC.

"Absolutely," said Jang. "That's why we were just dumbfounded when all this stuff started to come out in the media about it being cancelled and UFC was this (and that). It's really not (the) UFC. We've been working with them closely for three months now to work out these issues."

In fact, Jang says the UFC has been "really helpful" in trying to remove obstacles to the show.

While no one is saying so publicly, it appears the city got a nudge from the mixed martial arts juggernaut Monday.

Sort out the small print or we will go elsewhere.

"Where these reports came from, I don't know," Jang said. "Everybody's suspecting maybe somebody was trying to wrap it up or trying to push the negotiations along. But we're very clear, we won't put the city of Vancouver at risk.

"The province has to come forward and help us out here. Otherwise, if we can't reach an agreement, it goes to Cincinnati or wherever they want to go. They can come back when the law's changed."

Jang says the problem is that the province of B.C., unlike Quebec which has already staged two UFC shows, has not agreed to provide the city with indemnity, meaning the city cannot be sued "for any reason arising from one of these events."

While the UFC would have to provide insurance, the city has had to look into additional insurance in the form of $10 million in third-party liability, according to Jang. GM Place would also need insurance.

Complicating the matter is the Criminal Code does not provide an exemption for MMA, as it does boxing.

"The sticking point, as I understand it from our staff, is we need assurances in writing that a claim would not be denied because of the old and antiquated Criminal Code provision," Jang said.

"The question is now how do we get the insurance companies to provide us with that assurance and that's where the negotiation is now."

UFC president Dana White said this week he couldn't comment on any specific issues with Vancouver.

But Ratner said the UFC is helping with the issue of indemnity and insurance.

"We're working on both of those things. I'm just very confident. Whenever that day is, whether it's today or tomorrow, we're going to get this done."

[BlueNGold]

Re: UFC 115 in Vancouver a no-go?

Looks like things got worked out and 115 is still gonna be in Vancouver:

http://tsn.ca/mma/story/?id=316190

The on-again, off-again UFC show in Vancouver is a go.

UFC president Dana White confirmed to The Canadian Press that the mixed martial arts card will take place as scheduled June 12 at GM Place.

With insurance a major sticking point, the UFC played hardball and the MMA juggernaut appears to have won the day.

There was talk Monday of moving the show to Cincinnati. That was followed by the UFC giving city officials 24 hours to sort out the issue or else, according to a source.

Vancouver will be the second Canadian city to stage a UFC show.

The UFC has already held two cards in Montreal -- UFC 83 and 97 -- and plans a third -- UFC 113 -- next month.

Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang had said the city was facing a problem that the province of B.C., unlike Quebec, had not agreed to provide the city with indemnity, meaning the city could not be sued "for any reason arising from one of these events."

While the UFC has to provide insurance of its own, the city had to look into additional insurance in the form of $10 million in third-party liability, according to Jang. GM Place would also need insurance.

Complicating the matter is the Criminal Code does not provide an exemption for MMA, as it does boxing, causing the city concerns that any insurance claims might be denied.

But Marc Ratner, the UFC's vice-president of regulatory affairs said Tuesday he was confident the outstanding issues could be settled. He was proved right a day later after the some tough bargaining tactics.

In December, Vancouver city councillors voted six to three to approve a two-year trial period for MMA, opening the door for a UFC show that could generate millions for the local economy.

But under the pilot program, promoters must ensure the city can't be held liable for damages.

Ontario is the next Canadian target for the UFC. The province, home to a rich vein of MMA fans, has yet to sanction the sport.