UFC Chiefs To Make Personal Plea To City

'It's like safe sex,' says supporting councillor ahead of approval vote today

Province - December 17, 2009

Two top officials with the Ultimate Fighting Championship will make their pitch to Vancouver council today to hold a UFC card next year in the city.

The UFC -- a fast-growing mixed-martial-arts competition -- tentatively plans a brawl for it all at B.C. Place Stadium next June.

But first it needs council approval, so the UFC's Lawrence Epstein and Michael Mersch will make a personal appeal today, when council will decide on the fighting events.

Coun. Kerry Jang said reports back from events in Calgary and Montreal lead him to believe there won't be associated problems.

"If these things are properly regulated, a lot of police are there, and the bad guys stay away," said Jang. "We still need to have a full discussion about civic liabilities, about insurance."

But Jang feels it's better to have sanctioned events with medical teams available, rather than push the sport underground.

"It's like safe sex--if you say they can't do it, they're going to sneak out and do it anyway."

Vancouver hosted two amateur bouts on a trial basis, and based on those experiments Vancouver police now feel there is nothing wrong with UFC.

"We support any regulated, properly licensed event," said spokeswoman Const. Lindsey Houghton. "[The two amateur events] were a complete nonevent from our point of view."

Coun. Suzanne Anton has backed the bid from the start, and says other councillors are now coming around. "It's a fun event, it's very popular, and it brings a lot of revenue to the city," said Anton. "It appears that council will approve it, but it may not be unanimous."

Coun. Heather Deal said she's prepared to vote for the UFC. "There are two issues--whether you like the sport, and whether the city is covered for liabilities, and I think the second is more important," said Deal. "I would be in favour of a two-year trial."

Ian Austin - iaustin@theprovince.com