News Ottawa and Region O'Brien makes pitch for UFC card By SUN STAFF Last Updated: August 20, 2010 11:54pm The UFC is coming to Ottawa — assuming Mayor Larry O’Brien gets his way. O’Brien told a packed crowd at a mixed martial arts event in Gatineau on Friday night that he is determined to see Ottawa beat out Toronto to host the first sanctioned MMA event in Ontario after the province lifted its ban last week. And he’s aiming to bring in the biggest fight club on the planet — the UFC. “(Friday) morning, I sent a letter to (UFC president) Dana White to make Ottawa’s case,†O’Brien told a cheering crowd during a break at WreckMMA’s Bad Intentions card at the Lac Leamy Casino. A self-described MMA fan, O’Brien implored fellow supporters to “start writing letters†to support his effort. “That last fight was freakin’ awesome,†he said during Bad Intentions, which featured many top area fighters. The card also supported the Ottawa Food Bank.
