UFC 97 Imperiled By Fallout of Strikebox Debacle
by ufc4 on Feb 12, 2009 8:28 PM EST
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Promoted from the fanposts by Kid Nate. Be sure and see this post and this post for some background.I edited the headline as well.
MMA Mania is reporting that UFC 97 is in jeopardy of being cancelled due to rule changes being considered by the Quebec Athletic Commission due to the debacle that was Strikebox:
In the aftermath of that disastrous event, the QAC is re-evaluating rules that govern the sport of mixed martial arts within the province and are considering changes that include a smaller cage, banning elbow and knee strikes and requiring a referee to stop a bout when a fighter gets knocked down to make sure they are okay to continue.
The QAC further stated that the UFC will be forced to comply with any proposed changes should they desire to stage an event there, which comes as a surprise considering the success of UFC 83 that was held on April 19 of 2008.
I'm no expert on Canadian law so I have no idea how their government works or if legislature could be passed in time to affect this event scheduled for April 18th but this is not a good development.
[Note by ufc4, 02/12/09 5:56 PM PST ] *Update*:
According to a report from MMA Junkie it appears that the current rules DO NOT ALLOW for MMA in Quebec:
Réjean Thériault, the communications director for the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which governs alcohol, racing, gambling and combat sports in Quebec, told CorusSports the UFC's use of elbows and knees to the head do not currently fall in line with the commission's policies.
The commission's current policies only apply to boxing, kickboxing and mixed boxing and do not provide regulations on the use of a cage. Thériault told CorusSports that if the UFC was unable to adapt its own policies to the commission's regulations, the company would not be welcome for its planned April 18 event.
From the way this report sounds the rules would need to be changed to even hold the event. One quote from the article that doesn't make sense to me is this:
Thursday's revelation was particularly curious considering the UFC held the highest-attended event in company history, "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2," in Montreal nearly one year ago. According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC's 2008 event -- attended by more than 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales -- until just a few days ago.
How is it that they didn't know there was an event held there that happened 9 months ago, received tons of media attention, was on PPV, and had 21,000 attendees? That just doesn't sound right to me, maybe they dropped the ball and are trying to play a little CYA to hide the fact that they screwed up in the first place. Either way things don't sound promising right now but the UFC does have a lot of clout (and money) but they need to get things straightened out ASAP. With the event just a little over 2 months away if they have to move it to Vegas they will need time to book a venue, get tickets distributed, etc. Let's hope this story can come to a quick conclusion.
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Change “Strikebox” to “Quebec” and I’d agree. This is just unacceptable.
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Perhaps not cancelled, but from the sounds of it there is a definite possibility that it may have to be moved, and that is a pretty major story considering how well 83 did there last year.
Correct
No way the even just gets scrapped, if anything it will just be moved to another venue. You can better believe I’d be willing to go back to vegas to see the Iceman and the Spider on the same card.
You know what, lets shoot for the moon. Why not bring the UFC back to the Staples Center so I don’t have to travel at all.
Could we make it the first UFC event ever held in Kansas City so I don’t have to travel to Minnesota or Las Vegas when I want to see a fight?
here! here!
st. louis for me, but i would settle for k.c. :-)
Let’s just compromise and say Columbia!
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 12, 2009 9:20 PM EST up reply actions
The Quebecois will look at the money the UFC card will generate and settle without doing anything drastic – they’ll probably just ban cans/bottles of beer and make the arenas hand out plastic cups.
I’m not worried only because it would be so patently absurd.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 12, 2009 9:25 PM EST reply actions
Bring it a bit down south to Chicago.
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
Yeah
Because I heard 100 was supposed to be in Rosemount, but it now appears I was wrong.
by Blackout612 on Feb 12, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions
Ugh, AllState should be used
I’d rather have it at the All-State, better for everyone. Hell, I never understood why the United Center isn’t used.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 13, 2009 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
The UFC started in Denver, so Colorado should be at least a biannual stop. We could fill up the Pepsi Center, damnit (at least put Varner-Cerrone here instead of in fucking Arizona)
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 12, 2009 9:38 PM EST reply actions
Hmmm…according to the Sherdog article on Strikebox I just read they do in fact have mixed martial arts rules.
In Quebec there are three types of professional combat that are approved by our rules," Thériault said. "There’s boxing, there’s kickboxing and there’s mixed martial arts. There’s nothing else. This promoter wanted a new style of combat called Strikeboxing. We said we couldn’t because of our rules and we wouldn’t allow it. If he wants to put on a show that’s fine, but it will be under mixed martial arts rules."
I’m all confused now.
And this…
In the aftermath of that disastrous event, the QAC is re-evaluating rules that govern the sport of mixed martial arts within the province and are considering changes that include a smaller cage, banning elbow and knee strikes and requiring a referee to stop a bout when a fighter gets knocked down to make sure they are okay to continue.
Horrible.
I will play my game beneath the spin light.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 12, 2009 10:32 PM EST up reply actions
Interesting...
Guess what making this all does… hurts fighters even more.
So, a guy gets put on queer street, gets helped up, sees if he’s okay. Sounds like a standing 8 count, and that’s why boxers die, because they take more beatings.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 13, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
WAIT A SECOND...
LOL, is this serious?
According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC’s 2008 event — attended by more than 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales — until just a few days ago.
How in holy hell on Earth do you NOT KNOW about the UFC in Montreal when your commission regulates combat sports in the region? Sounds like these guys are a bunch of hacks to me, LOL, this is unbelievably laughable.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
I heard they got started by reading “Athletic Commissions For Dummies” by the California State Athletic Commission.
^^ would explain a lot.
And is likely consistent with the general attitude there.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Feb 12, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
LOL
Glad you caught that Nate, I don’t think Strikeforce did anything wrong, other than buying Kimbo’s contract.
How the fuck does the commission not know about UFC 83? Wouldn’t they have to supply referees, judges and state-appointed physicians? What the fuck is going on?
by Luke Thomas on Feb 12, 2009 11:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
^What he said
I was just about to type that same thing. It’s impossible to say you’re not aware as a commission when you’ve supplied the necessary staff for an event already
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 12, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
Are the commissions that sanction events in Montreal and Quebec different?
Doesn’t make this any less stupid but that would explain something.
As a matter of fact, epic geography fail aside, Montreal does have its own athletic commission. That’s not all that uncommon in Canada; in BC, each city/region has its own athletic commission which are themselves regulated by the provincial committee sets broad standards, though the individual commissions have a great deal of authority. Kind of like school boards and their relation to the provincial Ministry of Education. However, in this case, it looks like the regional commission actually violated the basic guidelines of the province.
There should be no surprise that no one complained until now, though. All provincial-level politics are corrupt as shit. I should know; I work for a provincial government.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
*by the provincial committee WHICH sets...
Durrrrr. Can’t type; jiu jitsu hands.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
Lemme add this...
If you are in the business of combative sports, wouldn’t it be your perogative to keep up with the sport? When there is a UFC event, it’s kind of hard to fucking MISS an UFC event in your hometown when it’s plastered on every website, blog devoted to MMA.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 13, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
So, apparently....
Quebec has been holding all these MMA events without them being sanctioned by the commission, at least not according to the rules that are in place. In that case heads should be rolling because someone in the athletic commission really fucked up bad.
just book a new venue in the states...
…and get it over with. Find a place along the border w/ Canada to do it even. Just to rub it in.
A guy told me he got tickets for UFC 87 from Dana White while hanging out in the strip club. Apparently Dana was giving away the remaining tickets for a near sellout.
I certainly didn’t think you were serious.. Wonder what titty bar he was at? I don’t go to strip clubs in MN unless it’s a bachelor party (Vegas spoiled me), but if I knew he would be at one, I’d likely go. A lot of fighters have been known to go to Sheik’s (Anderson Silva did a meet and greet there, strangely), so that is most probably the one.
that's really sad
Man, that sucks. I just wrote to the commission to complain. I don’t want to see Anderson Silva or David Loiseau fight without knees or elbows. I’m proud to be from Québec, but that would make me so much less so.
Either way, I’m still getting my tickets tomorrow but that would blow.
Québec has way too many governement workers with nothing better to do.
Canada has way too many governement workers with nothing better to do.
Made that a bit more accurate.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
Shady...
It all sounds to me like some shady French-Canadian Douche wants a share of the cash. A little payoff and everything will be fine…
by ProCannonFodder on Feb 13, 2009 12:43 AM EST reply actions
I’m sure Dana will show up with some poutine and cigarettes and smooth this whole thing out.
If not they should send it to western Canada.
Canadian law...
These type of things are regulated province-by-province (much like the state-by-state commissions) and provincial legislation is generally much easier to pass if they do it on an accelerated basis (i.e. “back to work legislation” for unions on strike in the province). I’m not entirely sure how it works at the provincial (vs. federal) level as I’m no poly sci major – however to complicate things a little further, Quebec is the only province that operates under “civil codes”, which I have very little knowledge about.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
If the UFC want to hold an event under these rules then it won’t be an MMA event. How can you even fight for a title if it’s not an MMA fight? How can you say you have a win/loss if it’s not under MMA rules?
The UFC should scrap it all together, because they won’t be hosting an MMA event in Quebec.
That poster is bad
Shamrocks Wargods poster looks better than this one…
TSK TSK, UFC!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
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