St Pierre vs Hughes 3 Confirmed for May 2007

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is coming to Canada with current welterweight champion Georges St Pierre taking on former champion Matt Hughes in Montreal on April 7.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the UFC's Canadian debut in speaking to reporters Tuesday on the eve of the Ultimate Fight Night card Wednesday (8 p.m.) on a U.S. military base.

St. Pierre stripped Hughes of his 170-pound belt in dominant fashion Nov. 18 in Sacramento, scoring a second-round technical knockout to avenge a submission loss to the American in October 2004.

The 25-year-old from Montreal is set to make his first title defence in Las Vegas on Feb. 3 against Matt Serra, the winner of Season 4 of The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show.

Making the St. Pierre-Hughes rubber match in Montreal the UFC's first show in Canada is a no-brainer for the mixed martial arts circuit. St. Pierre will draw fans to the Bell Centre while Hughes is a ready-made villain, certain to help pump up the fight.

The former champion did his bit to muddy Canada-U.S. relations prior to UFC 65: Bad Intentions in Sacramento when he sneered at Canada's foreign policies and questioned Canadians' hearts. St. Pierre also was upset at remarks Hughes reportedly made on a Los Angeles radio station about the French's lack of warrior spirit.

"How fun is that going to be," White said mischievously Tuesday of the Montreal fight. "How crazy do you that place going to be that night? How do you think it's going to be for Hughes when he walks in with 16,000 Canadians in there? They're going to kill him."

The anti-Hughes vibe will probably only serve as fuel to the former champion's fire. Hughes is a canny veteran fighter who has plenty to prove after being dismantled by St. Pierre.

Montreal, meanwhile, has already proved to be fertile ground for MMA via the TKO shows run by St. Pierre's manager Stephane Patry.

St. Pierre is already enjoying the perks of being a champion. The UFC gave him a Hummer for winning the title, no doubt a welcome but somewhat awkward gift for someone who had just splurged on a Nissan truck.

Next week, he and several other UFC big-name fighters are touring three U.S. three military sites.

"He's amazing. He's such a great champion for us," White said. "He's good-looking, he's in great shape, he's one of the nicest human beings you could ever meet. . . . Everybody loves Georges St Pierre."

White also hopes to have Canada host an Ultimate Fight Night televised card next year.

Source: Canada.com

Image: InsideFighting.com