The UFC is heading back to the Canadian West. In an announcement today, the promotion unveiled plans for its debut in Edmonton, Alberta. Taking place at Rogers Place on September 9, UFC 216 will mark the promotion’s second trip to Alberta. It’s the twenty-fourth trip to Canada overall for the UFC.
In a press release on their website, Joe Carr, UFC Senior Vice President, Head of International and Content said “We are thrilled to hold our first pay-per-view event in Edmonton.” He added that “Fans have long been asking us to bring the Octagon back to Alberta, and we can’t wait to deliver a blockbuster event at state-of-the-art Rogers Place this September.”
“Back to Alberta” is, of course, a reference to UFC 149, which took place in Calgary back in 2012. The card was decimated by injuries and derided by UFC President Dana White, who would later state that he felt he owed the city a (big) fight. The UFC has yet to return there, however.
Edmonton, however, is just a couple hours up the highway, so a stop there may have to tide fans in Calgary over for the time being. No main event has been announced for the September card, nor any fights. The card marks the second this year in Canada, following a Fight Night event in Halifax in February. UFC 206, last December, was held in Toronto. In all, ten Canadian cities will have played host to UFC events with the addition of Edmonton.
A microsite for UFC 216 has been launched at http://www.ufc.com/edmonton
