UFC Returns

Sarah Kaufman is in hopes of being on the card when the UFC finally rolls into Vancouver June 14 as part of a cross-country tour that will once again put them on the sporting card.

When contacted in Quebec City Kaufman mentioned “I’ll be there one way or the other for the 2014 UFC venue along with Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. “I’ve got a lot of followers in Vancouver and Victoria, and the UFC likes to have a local fighter.

Kaufman  also studied dance for 18 years prior to trying out mixed-martial (MMA) arts as an alternate form of workout — and was not only hooked she felt it was second nature for her.

“It’s progressing from one type of stage to an entirely different stage,” says the 28-year-old. “It’s very good stress relief.”

The Victoria native certainly has a competitive fire burning inside her.

“Even if it’s a board game, I want to win,” she says, promising a mighty clash if she gets the call-up. “I always want to win in a fight in the most devastating way possible.”

Kaufman’s technique will be featured in some of the five Canadian venues this year, but final cards are still in the works as she angles for a June 14 bout at Rogers Arena.

In a press release, UFC officials credit a change in jurisdiction for allowing the Vancouver bout to go ahead.

Vancouver city officials had required the fighters to take out $10 million in insurance, threatening to end the mixed martial arts matches after back-to-back fights in 2010 and 2011.

“No other organization could meet the insurance or indemnification issues the city demanded,” said the UFC’s Tom Wright.

“We weren’t about to continue under those circumstances.”

Wright said a change to provincial oversight enabled the UFC to return to Vancouver.

“A lot of issues tied to the city have been rectified, or at least eliminated, given the new athletic commission,” he said.

“We told the city and province we weren’t coming back until the onerous insurance and indemnification issues were resolved and the sport was sanctioned at the provincial level.”

Since its Canadian debut in 2008, UFC has held 14 pay-per-views north of the border. The best-attended Canadian bout was UFC 129 in Toronto, with 55,724 spectators.

Vancouver events have drawn far fewer — 17,669 fans for UFC 115 in 2010, and 14,685 a year later for UFC 131.

However many show up, they can be sure Kaufman will show up with all her strength.