Vancouver area, it appears that the proposed UFC 115 card set for June 12 at GM Place in Vancouver is going to be cancelled. Reports suggest the UFC are working on the likely replacement destination of Cincinnati, Ohio
The UFC's debut show in British Columbia, Canada has been plagued by disputes over liability and insurance. After finally getting MMA regulated in the province, many MMA fans were getting excited at the prospect of having a UFC card in the 2010 Winter Olympic host city
It would appear though that city officials in Vancouver and the UFC management have simply run out of time, as the need to confirm the UFC 115 card is pretty much immediate.
The UFC requires 11-12 weeks of lead time for an event to set up marketing, promotion, and everything else that comes with putting on a UFC event.
From reports in the Vancouver Sun, former Vancouver Athletic Commission member Dr. Raj Sandhu said this:
"The liability issue is garbage. They wanted $12 million in liability put up by the promoters," said Sandhu. "We had WWE wrestling here, nobody asked them for $12 million. When Trevor Berbick boxed here, no $12 million liability for him. So all of a sudden they come up with this figure; it's as if [Mayor] Gregor Robertson wants to come out squeaky clean. He doesn't want the event."
Contrary to this, UFC's Dana White previously said at UFC 111 that should the planned event not go ahead on June 12, then the UFC will be back later in the year.
As a Vancouver resident, I am hugely hopeful that this happens, as a UFC event on the West coast of Canada would be huge for the area and would undoubtedly be a success.
There is a very slim chance that everything may get resolved; but if not, then it looks like us MMA fans over here will be waiting a bit longer.
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