MMACanada.net's Exclusive UFC Press Conference Coverage

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Adam Reid - MMACanada.net

 

9:30 AM

- Montreal, Quebec

Its official, UFC is coming to Canada in beautiful Montreal, Quebec!!!!!

As the press conference room slowly filled up with a variety radio and television journalists from all around the world, it was clear that this was not going to be just another MMA event. This was going to be history in the making with one of our best EXPORTS gunning for the title.

Sportsnet, RDS, TSN, local media and many more were on hand to ask questions to the TWO major headliners of this event, Matt Serra and Montreal's very own Georges St-Pierre. Of course we all know that the "UFC" has been around the world to such places like the U.K, but NEVER before have the world's best MMA fighters fought here and never has the "BELL CENTER" accommodated such an event.

Five major people were at the conference, UFC President Dana White, Georges St-Pierre the aspiring champion, Matt Serra the current champion and someone who has something to prove, Pierre Boivin president of "Gillette Entertainment Group", and Mario Latraverse who also works with the "GILLETTE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP".

Ultimate Fighting Championship:

The “UFC” has been in existence for 15 years that offers series of events around the world. The company has been across the United States, has traveled to Europe, and now for the first time ever in Canada.

Quebec is the first province in Canada in 1998 to introduce Mixed Martial Arts. Of course this was introduced with much controversy. The times have change, and that risk factor is no longer as serious and the UFC is responsible for that. They have worked with the boxing commission, for it to remain a REAL sport and a sport where the fighters are protected and secured.

Face it….This is the “SUPERBOWL” of “Mixed Martial Arts” says Georges St-Pierre.

Today was a huge day for the UFC. Dana White himself mentioned that he has been waiting for a long time for this moment and people in Canada still to this day don't realize how big this sport is and will become. Mr. White also mentioned that he is still shocked when he looks at the ticket sale reports and sees how many Canadians travel across the globe to watch these events. This of course was one of the main reasons why he decided to come up to Canada.

He went on to explain that “We started traveling too soon and in ENGLAND and it killed us. We lost a lot of money. Of course after a move like that, we were a little hesitant, to move out of places like Vegas or casinos. Now, we went to COLUMBUS broke records with 19,500 fans showing up and we expect to break the record yet again, in Montreal with 22,000+ fans making it the LARGEST attended event ever in the history of the UFC.

The response was so incredible that during the pre-sale of the event, it had already surpassed the 13,375 mark. A mark that Mr.White knew would be reachable.

Mr White also went on to explain that “These are the best conditioned athletes in the world. At the beginning I felt the same, I didn’t think it was a sport, yet the more I learnt about it, the more I realized how hard it was. Think of the amount of work that goes into boxing, these fighters need to know every style of fighting, need to condition train, weight train, and they are also well educated people first and foremost.

Serra va St-Pierre 2:

“If you relate this sport to basketball, Georges St-Pierre buries Micheal Jordan”. It was clear that Mr.White held Georges St-Pierre in high regard but also congratulated Matt Serra for getting the job done last time around.

The sponsorship that Georges St-Pierre has been able to bring to this sport and the attention is incredible in the 5-6 years he’s been in the company.

Matt Serra mentioned that “I’m a movie buff, and I think this fight is a little like ROCKY 4. It’s the little Italian underdog versus the fearless machine. Being an underdog is just in my blood, and I feel comfortable there. They said I couldn’t do it, and I did it. I’ll do it again”

Mr White was also very thankful for the fact that Matt Serra accepted this fight as the reigning champion in Georges St-Pierre’s hometown which is clearly an edge for him. Matt was also under the impression in his career, that when you beat the man at the top you’ll earn respect, and clearly that has not happened which is a bit frustrating for him. “It’s almost like now I need to fight a 2 out of 3, and if I win again, I’ll have to fight a 3 out of 5, it’s NEVER going to end” says Matt Serra with a smile on his face.

When George St-Pierre was asked if Matt Serra was underestimated, he replied “Matt Serra is underestimated, I made a lot of mistakes and he was clearly the better fighter that night. I never make the same mistakes twice, and now that I look back this was the best thing ever for my career. I’ve always comeback stronger”

George St-Pierre also spoke about his training. He sometime trains 3 times a day, 6 days a week. He boxes with Howard Grant and Quebec’s very own Joachim Alcine, he trains Muai Thai and with the best strikers in the world which he flies in, and locally he spars with David Oiseau, Patrick Cote. He mentioned he ever flies in fighters from Brazil to get ready for this fight.

The reality is this. UFC is here. It’s here to stay, it’s here to grow, and it’s here to make an impact. It is impossible to say what kind of effect this will have on the sport in Canada or in the world, however George St-Pierre was eager to say “In Las Vegas, people come up to me all the time, they recognize me because of the popularity of the sport. After this event is done, win or lose I have a feeling my life will change”.

What he doesn’t know, is that MMA here in Canada will also forever change, and it is the beginning of great things to come.

To watch the video, click the following URL:
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=videoPlayer.home&gid=9949

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