The UFC’s return to Ottawa is official, as UFC Fight Night 150 (UFC on ESPN+ 8) will take place in the Canadian capital, though the main event has yet to be announced.
The UFC’s long-rumored return to Ottawa is official. Hopefully, this time, the air conditioning will work. UFC Ottawa (UFC on ESPN+ 8) was announced Wednesday by UFC Senior Vice President of International and Content David Shaw, appearing on TSN radio. The card will take place May 4 at the Canadian Tire Centre in the Canadian capital. It comes nearly three years after the promotion’s first trip to the city, UFC Fight Night 89, which saw Stephen Thompson defeat Rory MacDonald.
The infamous show in June 2016 saw the air conditioning at the TD Place Arena fail miserably, leading to fans chanting “we want AC, we want AC!” during the event. Hopefully it’ll work at the CTC.
Among the fighters announced Wednesday, Canadians Elias Theodorou and Brad Katona. Theodorou (16–2) has won three straight, and will be paired up against Derek Brunson (19-7) at the show. While the fight had been rumored to serve as the evening’s main event, a report by TSN indicates the headliner for the card has yet to be determined.
Katona is 2-0 in the UFC, the first win earning him the Ultimate Fighter 27 crown. A perfect 8-0, the Manitoba native will fight Merab Dvalishvili (8-4) at the event.
Also appearing at UFC Ottawa, Arjan Bhullar (8-1), the Indian Canadian heavyweight standout who improved to 2-1 in the UFC at UFC Moncton. Bhullar is tasked with welcoming 5-0 Juan ‘The Kraken’ Adams to Canada.
Montreal’s Aiemann Zahabi (brother of famed TriStar coach Firas) will have a short drive to Ottawa, where the 7-1 fighter will take on Vince Morales (8-3). Sarah ‘Cheesecake’ Moras (5-4) will seek to snap a two-fight losing streak when she meets Leah Letson (5-1), who competed at featherweight on The Ultimate Fighter 28. Their bout will be held at bantamweight. Mitch Gagnon (12-4) will face Brian Kelleher (19–10), and newcomer and two-division TKO champ Marc-Andre Barriault (11-1) will face TUF 23 winner Andrew Sanchez (10-4) at at middleweight.
Update, 4/19/2019 — Due to a change in UFC broadcast plans, UFC Ottawa is now UFC Fight Night 151/UFC on ESPN+ 9
