The UFC returns to Toronto tonight, and while the first event set all time attendance records with 55,724 at the Rogers Centre this one in the Air Canada Centre, with a capacity around 20,000, looks like it will not even sell out. While some reporters may suggest this corresponds with the changing nature of men within the city of Toronto, it may be that the UFC gained popularity because it was banned from the city, not because of the sport itself.
Just like sneaking alcohol under the drinking age, once you hit 19 and that mystique of having something you are not allowed is gone a bit of the joy and excitement leaves with it. The first time Toronto hosted UFC 129 it felt liberating. Now it is just another sporting event.
A recent suggestion by city councillor Doug Ford to allow UFC fighters to head into schools and help with fitness training for children, as well as passing along anti-bullying messages, became big news when it was covered in the Toronto Star recently.A number of Torontonians did not like the idea of children emulating cage fighters - while others just disagree with coddling children in regards to bullying.
To be perfectly fair though In terms of athletes as role models it is not like the four major sports - football, hockey, basketball, and baseball - have had squeaky clean athletes themselves. I can name off more incidents involving those major sports than I can with UFC fighters.
These discussions against the UFC in schools appear to be just one more shot against mixed martial arts in the city. Dana White, the owner and promoter of UFC, has always been known to provide free tickets to his events. Recently however it seems just walking around the downtown core one could bump into a promotion handing out free tickets.
Some will point to the stereotype of the lackadaisical sports fan in Toronto, only coming out for the most popular events where it is about being seen as much as being there. Georges St. Pierre, one of the most prolific UFC fighters and a Canadian as well, fought in Toronto the last time around, but was not on the card this time around. To some this is just Toronto, losing interest because GSP will not be fighting (and will not be fighting for a while, either, as he unfortunately tore his ACL this week and is sidelined for 10 months).
But it may say that while UFC took off in a hurry and seemed poised to replace boxing as our gladiator sport of choice, it does not have the staying power. Or at least not in this market anyways.
Whatever the case may be tonight, when the fighters take to the octagon to do battle, the crowd in attendance will be considerably smaller than it already was going to be compared to the last time the organization came to town. It may be a sign that Toronto simply does not embrace the sport as much as some previously thought. Or maybe, just maybe, the city really has lost all its manly men.
Photo courtesy Ryan Bristlon
