MMA Landscape in Canada – Popularity and Fighters
Mixed martial arts is a sport popular in many countries across the globe. Based on striking, grappling, and ground fighting, it uses techniques from different combat sports that are practiced all over the planet. Canada is also a big market for MMA so here is what you should know about the history of the sport, its popularity, and some famous fighters from the country.
The history of MMA in Canada
For starters, MMA competitions were illegal for many years in Canada. Only boxing matches where the fighters used only their fists were legal. Then, some provinces like Ontario, Manitoba, and Quebec classified MMA as mixed boxing, which allowed them to pass it off as legal. In Alberta, New Brunswick, and British Columbia, the legality depended on the municipality.
On June 5, 2013, Canada decriminalized MMA and gave provinces the power to regulate mixed martial arts. This doesn’t mean that the sport is legal everywhere but only that provinces have the ability to make it legal should they want to. MMA is not regulated by an athletic commission in Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, and Nunavut, and thus still illegal.
The rise in popularity
That being said, even back when the practice wasn’t legal, the sport was still popular in Canada. There were many fighters from the Great White North and interested viewers and punters also abounded. Events were regularly held and it was easy to find one to bet on. Nowadays, the practice is much more common and it’s easy to find a reliable operator where one can place a wager. For example, the site Betminded is a review website where punters can look for licensed and trustworthy providers. After vetting a bookmaker, it’s simple to make an account and place a bet.
Famous Canadian fighters
Finally, let’s go over some of the most famous MMA fighters from Canada that the world had the chance to enjoy watching.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre is considered the greatest of all time when it comes to UFC fighters from Canada. What is more, many think of him as the best MMA fighter ever. From Saint-Isidore, Quebec, St-Pierre was nicknamed Rush as he managed to bring his opponents down very fast, typically in the first round. He competed in the welterweight and lightweight categories and dominated the league as he has two titles in the former and one in the latter division. St-Pierre was active from 2002 to 2013 and won against fighters like Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, Michael Bisping, and B.J. Penn. He returned to the sport briefly in 2017, to win the middleweight title. With a career record of 26-2, there is no denying that he is one of the best to ever compete in the sport.
Patrick Côté
Another fighter from Quebec that had a dominant run was Patrick Côté. Nicknamed The Predator, he ruled the middleweight division from 2005 to 2008 and established himself as a tenacious fighter and championship contender. However, after an injury in 2008, Côté hadn’t quite managed to regain the edge he had over his rivals. He later went on to compete in the welterweight category from 2012 to 2017. He has a record of 23-11.
Joe Doerksen
Joe Doerksen competed in the light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight divisions during his career that spanned 15 years. From 1999 to 2014, he was known as a resilient fighter with the nickname El Dirte. A win over Patrick Côté offered an impressive showcase of his skills. He has a record of 51-16.
Rory MacDonald
MacDonald is a fighter that retired only last year (2022) after a long career that started in 2005. Also known as Red King, this Canadian legend competed both in the UFC and PFL. He is a former King of the Cage Lightweight Champion as well as a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion. His career record is 23-10-1.
Carlos Newton
Carlos Newton was born in Anguilla and, as a child, moved to Toronto where he started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He even created his own fighting style “Dragon Ball Jiu-Jitsu” by combining several forms of martial arts. With this unique style, he won the UFC Welterweight title in 2001. However, while trying to defend the title, he lost to Matt Hughes in a match that saw both fighters knocked unconscious. From 1996 to 2016, his record was 16-14.
Denis Kang
Among many other popular and successful Canadian MMA fighters, Denis Kang should not get overlooked. After losing his debut fight, he won the following one against Xavier Foupa-Pokam and quickly made it to 23 wins in a row, which helped cement his legacy. Nicknamed The Super Korean, from 1998 to 2012, he had a record of 35-16-2.
Mixed martial arts are very popular in Canada and there are many famous fighters from the country. Who is your favorite?
