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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/ufc-mma-calgary-1.4638650
The UFC is returning to Calgary in July.
The mixed martial arts promotion will hold a UFC on Fox card July 28 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Nine fights were announced Friday, including a co-main event that will see former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo face ferocious striker Jeremy Stephens.
The main event has not been set yet.
It's been six years since the UFC was in Calgary.
The 2012 fight card, UFC 149 pay-per-view, left many people disappointed, including some UFC officials, said David Shaw, senior vice-president of international and content for the UFC.
'Calgary is a hotbed for MMA'
"Unfortunately, we were struck by the injury bug when we came to Calgary last time, which was very disappointing," Shaw said. "There's such a massive fan base in Alberta.… Calgary is a hotbed for MMA in Canada."
"We are interested in making sure when we do come back this July we are bringing a quality card and a quality experience for fans in Calgary."
Shaw said one of the things that sets UFC apart from other sports is how accessible the community is. He said athletes will be making a number of appearances around the city over the weekend, including the weigh-in the day before the fight and a workout open for fans to attend.
Two Alberta fighters are slated to compete.
Calgary's Hakeem Dawodu is scheduled to meet Austin Arnett.
The highly touted Dawodu will be looking for redemption after a disastrous debut at a UFC Fight Night in London event in March, where he suffered a stunning submission loss in just 39 seconds.
"I think if anything I'm just hyping everybody up and I just gotta set the example and get the flame going," Dawodu said. "I'm excited to get back to my city and I'm going to get back to my knockout ways."
And Lethbridge fighter Jordan Mein is slated to face Alex Morono.
Mein is coming off a victory over Erick Silva at a UFC on Fox event in Winnipeg in December.
"For us, it really is a balance with having the local heroes with some of the global UFC icons that can bring a full experience to our live event viewers," Shaw said.
In this 2012 file photo, UFC fighter Nick Ring, right, and Court McGee, left, from Utah, square off after weigh-ins as UFC president Dana White, centre, looks on in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)
"We know that the experience is going to be great, but we also do know because there was an element of disappointment, next time we were here we have to make sure that we're coming with something special."
Other Canadian fighters announced for the July card include Alexis Davis (Ontario), Randa Markos (Ontario), Kajan Johnson (B.C.) and John Makdessi (Que.).
Shaw said Canadians are among the UFC's most devoted fans.
"Unlike hockey or unlike the CFL, we're not in the city every month or every week during the season. So for us, if we can only get there every couple of years, for us it elevates the level of gratitude we have for our fan base there."
The UFC is returning to Calgary in July.
The mixed martial arts promotion will hold a UFC on Fox card July 28 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
Nine fights were announced Friday, including a co-main event that will see former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo face ferocious striker Jeremy Stephens.
The main event has not been set yet.
It's been six years since the UFC was in Calgary.
The 2012 fight card, UFC 149 pay-per-view, left many people disappointed, including some UFC officials, said David Shaw, senior vice-president of international and content for the UFC.
'Calgary is a hotbed for MMA'
"Unfortunately, we were struck by the injury bug when we came to Calgary last time, which was very disappointing," Shaw said. "There's such a massive fan base in Alberta.… Calgary is a hotbed for MMA in Canada."
"We are interested in making sure when we do come back this July we are bringing a quality card and a quality experience for fans in Calgary."
Shaw said one of the things that sets UFC apart from other sports is how accessible the community is. He said athletes will be making a number of appearances around the city over the weekend, including the weigh-in the day before the fight and a workout open for fans to attend.
Two Alberta fighters are slated to compete.
Calgary's Hakeem Dawodu is scheduled to meet Austin Arnett.
The highly touted Dawodu will be looking for redemption after a disastrous debut at a UFC Fight Night in London event in March, where he suffered a stunning submission loss in just 39 seconds.
"I think if anything I'm just hyping everybody up and I just gotta set the example and get the flame going," Dawodu said. "I'm excited to get back to my city and I'm going to get back to my knockout ways."
And Lethbridge fighter Jordan Mein is slated to face Alex Morono.
Mein is coming off a victory over Erick Silva at a UFC on Fox event in Winnipeg in December.
"For us, it really is a balance with having the local heroes with some of the global UFC icons that can bring a full experience to our live event viewers," Shaw said.
"We know that the experience is going to be great, but we also do know because there was an element of disappointment, next time we were here we have to make sure that we're coming with something special."
Other Canadian fighters announced for the July card include Alexis Davis (Ontario), Randa Markos (Ontario), Kajan Johnson (B.C.) and John Makdessi (Que.).
Shaw said Canadians are among the UFC's most devoted fans.
"Unlike hockey or unlike the CFL, we're not in the city every month or every week during the season. So for us, if we can only get there every couple of years, for us it elevates the level of gratitude we have for our fan base there."
