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MMA in Canada Fighting Against Hockey for the Limelight



Tonight's UFC 179 card does not have televised prelims, at least not in Canada. With Rogers recent purchase of the rights to the NHL formerly consistent UFC content is getting pushed out of the way for Canada's national sport.

Once referred to as the "Mecca of MMA" Canada received a great deal in the Rogers Sportsnet contract that the UFC was able to secure. Even fights in other countries, available only on Fightpass in the UFC's home country south of the Canadian border, were live on TV for Canadian fans.

However with the NHL season getting into full swing shows such as The Ultimate Fighter got bumped to a 2 a.m. slot, the long running UFC Central with Showdown Joe got cancelled, and the prelims are available only on Fightpass.

This has also effected the bars which have confirmed to show the PPV, where previously sports bars could count on the lead in of airing the free televised prelims to entice customers to pay their cover charges once the pay-per-view to start, now only one bar in my hometown has confirmed with the UFC Sports Bar app that it will be showing UFC 179.

The Rogers Sportsnet deal with the UFC will expire soon, what that means for the state of MMA in Canada is yet to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the NHL is eclipsing the sport of MMA here in the Great White North.

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