UFC visits Toronto: Dana White says UFC 129 will be on a ‘whole other level’

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SLIDESHOW OF THE UFC 129 PRESS CONFERENCE

In front of a plethora of media at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the Ultimate Fighting Championship held a press conference to promote its first event in the province of Ontario. UFC President Dana White, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, top contenders Jake Shields and Mark Hominick, along with UFC Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright all took part in the conference to hype the April 30 event.
For months, White has been saying that the Toronto show would be the biggest event in UFC history and that fans can expect a unique experience on fight night. “We’re going to do things in this arena that we’ve never done in any arena before,” said White. “Instead of people worrying about ‘is this experience going to be the same,’ it’s not. It’s going to be better. We’re taking it to a whole other level.”

Although the Rogers Centre can hold upwards of 70,000 people, the UFC has elected to go for a more intimate environment with approximately 42,000 tickets going on sale to the public February 12.
A welterweight title fight between St. Pierre and Shields headlines UFC 129 and despite talks of a future super fight with Anderson Silva, the Quebec native is focused on the task at hand. “It would be foolish for me to look past Jake Shields,” said GSP. “He poses the biggest threat to my title.”
The co-main event features Thamesford, Ontario’s Hominick looking to take the UFC featherweight title from champion Jose Aldo. “This is the dream I’ve been thinking of since I was 13 years old,” said Hominick. “This is the culmination of ten years as a pro and I’m ready to do it April 30.”
UFC 129 features a record ten Canadian fighters competing on the card. Stay tuned for more content from this press conference. Also, follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter for the latest UFC 129 news.

MMA Gloves or Police Badge?? Sean Pierson may be one and done with the UFC.

"Life is full of tough decisions"

According to a report from The Star, Sean Pierson must choose between his Toronto Policing Career and his fighting career.

Sean Pierson has two budding careers ahead of him, but he gets to choose only one. Winning his debut in 1999, he has been "Hooked" ever since but he has been wanting to be a police officer since he was a young boy.  But the force says Pierson, 34, must choose between becoming a cop and becoming a famous fighter.

“I’ve been told I have to pick a dream,” he said. “I’m being asked do I want to fight or do I want to be a police officer?”

“It took my words away,” he said of receiving a standing ovation from the crowd of 23,000 at the Bell Centre.

“I just got in my first UFC fight and I’m tearing up in the back. I can’t believe what just happened,” he said.

When Pierson returned to Toronto, where he was supposed to pull his first shift as a police officer, he had to hand in his uniform and wait while the force investigates his situation.

“I can appreciate the position they’re in with what I do,” said Pierson. “I don’t look at mixed martial arts as a negative, but I think the mainstream still looks at us as a bit of a black eye.”

Pierson fought on the Canadian circuit for years, but this weekend at UFC 124 was his first chance at the “big leagues.” He is now hoping to get called to UFC 131 in Toronto this spring.

“Some people have a goal that they want to go to the world championships and stuff. That’s not my goal,” said Pierson. “I just want people to be proud of me.”

He said he doesn’t know which dream he’ll choose