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UFC 6/12 show out of Vancouver, British Columbia
By Zach Arnold | March 29, 2010
Over the last week or so, we’ve covered the struggles that an MMA expo promoter named Gerald Chopik has had in trying to run a trade show in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He got his show kicked out of one building and then the back-up building he was going to use told him he couldn’t have “two man demonstrations.” Chopik claimed that he was going to have two-man BJJ demonstrations. He claims that he is out $100,000 in losses due to the politics at work. Here is an update on the legal threats between Chopik and Abbotsford’s mayor. Note that the mayor says the show cancellation is part of the city’s war on gangs. The Abbotsford Times wrote an obnoxious op-ed supporting not having anything MMA-related in the city.
Now, it looks like he has company when it comes to potential lost revenue.
Neil Davison in The Canadian Press reports that UFC’s 6/12 Vancouver event will likely be moved to Cincinnati because of insurance and legal issues the city has with UFC putting on an MMA event at GM Place.
Paul Lazenby claims that the city’s licensing and animal control division kept the promotion in limbo. Marc Ratner was caught off-guard when asked to comment by reporters. Joe Ferraro relayed comments from Dana White about the situation.
A member of the City of Vancouver’s licensing office claims that UFC had paid a security deposit or purchased insurance for the event.
A profile article on UFC’s Wednesday show coming up in Charlotte (card line-up here). After the Charlotte event, the launch of a new season of Ultimate Fighter begins. Chuck Liddell is doing the PR rounds to hype Wednesday’s new season. One of the contestants on the show claims that Bob Sapp was his inspiration for getting into MMA.
Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, is happy with the way his operation is doing business.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
in the last article you linked it says: (emphasis mine)
“Tom Hammel of the City of Vancouver’s licence office said the UFC has *NOT* provided a security deposit, proof of insurance or security plan as requested by the Vancouver Athletic Commission. Those must be provided for the planned June 12 bout to go ahead.”
Zuffa typically has it’s act together across multiple cities in multiple countries. I would be surprised if they were the ones at fault for these current issues. In general, Canada doesn’t seem to have their act together concerning MMA.
That’s too bad. I was looking forward to going up there for the show.
The problem isn’t with Canada. It’s with organized crime.