UFC touches down in Montreal.
Headbanging Fighters and Fervent Fans: UFC's Montréal Return
A sea of eager fans huddled for hours last Thursday outside the Centre Bell, enduring chilly temperatures and gloomy skies, all in quest of a sneak peek at their sports idols. But the stars they craved weren't hockey heroes - rather, Belal Muhammad, José Aldo, and other mixed martial arts warriors were in town for the official UFC 315 press conference before the hotly anticipated main event on Saturday night.
UFC President Dana White was overwhelmed by the energy during the press conference, remarking post-event to La Presse Canadienne, "This was only a quarter of the arena, and you heard the buzz! This place will be packed, sold out on Saturday. Canadian enthusiasts are incredible. They always bring an electrifying energy. Saturday's going to be a blast. I'm thrilled to be back in Montréal."
The last time Montréal hosted an UFC event was over a decade ago – UFC 186, which took place on April 25, 2015, with a flyweight title fight between champion Demetrious Johnson and challenger Kyoji Horiguchi. White shared his enthusiasm for returning to Montréal, exclaiming, "They deserve it. Canada remains one of my favorite places to be. Some of the most unforgettable moments of my career happened when we were legalizing [professional mixed martial arts] in Ontario (in 2010)."
Since then, 415 UFC fight cards and 3668 days will have passed when UFC 315 kicks off on Saturday, featuring title battles for the welterweight championship between Muhammad and fifth-ranked Jack Della Maddalena and a flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Frenchwoman Manon Fiorot.
Dropping far short of the six UFC events held at the Centre Bell from 2008 to 2013 – an era defined by the presence of Quebec's local martial arts hero, Georges St-Pierre – White remarked, "As we were developing the sport and the business in the early days, there were many legends, from Chuck Liddell to St-Pierre, instrumental in helping us conquer fresh markets."
While the last decade has seen many changes in the political landscape, Saturday's event will be the first to take place on Canadian soil since Donald Trump's 2016 election. The growing tensions between Canada and the United States have sparked discussions, with Trump suggesting several times that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. White, however, remained unfazed and examined the challenges the UFC faced more globally, such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I don't dwell on the politics," White declared. "Major world events like the mentioned ones appear every few years or even every couple of years. They're bigger hurdles we've had to overcome. We just continue doing our job."
Aiemann Zahabi Gunning for Glory
When they lock horns on Saturday, Charles Radtke and Mike Malott of Burlington, Ontario, won't be the only Canadians competing on home turf. Montreal's Aiemann Zahabi will confront former two-time featherweight champion José Aldo of Brazil in a bantamweight battle.
"Fighting José Aldo is an honor," Zahabi disclosed on Thursday. "He's a legend of the sport. I'm doubly proud to face him here, in Montréal, my hometown."
Zahabi plans to draw on the wisdom of another local hero, Georges St-Pierre, confiding in the retired ultimate fighter for advice during his fight preparations against the 38-year-old UFC Hall of Fame member, Aldo.
The following mixed martial arts fighter, Aiemann Zahabi, is geared up to compete on home turf at UFC 315. Hailing from Montreal, Zahabi will face the legendary José Aldo of Brazil in a bantamweight battle. Zahabi saw this encounter as an honor, stating, "Fighting José Aldo is an honor. He's a legend of the sport." showcasing his pride in facing Aldo, particularly within his hometown. In preparation for his fight against the 38-year-old UFC Hall of Fame member, Aldo, Zahabi sought advice from another local hero, Georges St-Pierre.
