The NHL lockout has left a huge void in the lives of Montreal sports fans: we walk the streets on Saturday nights, expecting to see hockey on bar televisions, but all we find is college football. Luckily, there’s an opportunity coming up this Saturday night that will rival the atmosphere of even the tensest Canadiens playoff games.
Georges St. Pierre (GSP), Montreal’s MMA golden boy, is coming back for his first fight in 18 months to defend his UFC Welterweight title at the Bell Centre. Since he regained his title in Montreal in 2008, GSP has dominated the division, winning six straight title defences. Unfortunately, GSP has not fought since he tore his ACL in 2011 during a bout with Jake Shields. In his absence, the UFC created an interim Welterweight belt—won by Carlos Condit, who will fight GSP this Saturday in a title unification match.
Given Quebec’s pacifistic reputation, it may surprise many to hear that this city goes absolutely wild during GSP fights—whether it takes place in Montreal or elsewhere. I caught his UFC 111 bout with Dan Hardy at Bar Bifteck, and it was the rowdiest bar atmosphere I had ever seen. The place was packed shoulder to shoulder with screaming fans, despite the $10 cover charge. Because it was so packed, fans were ordering pizza to be delivered at the bar. The place erupted when GSP came out on top—you couldn’t hear your own screams.
I had another opportunity to watch GSP fight—this time in the Bell Centre against Josh Koschek. Again, the atmosphere was incredible. During GSP’s entrance, the fans in the stadium were so loud that bottles were visibly jumping up and down near ringside. Once again, GSP dominated the fight, and the fans went home happy.
With the next GSP fight scheduled for this Saturday, here are some tips for enjoying a good night out—even if you don’t enjoy MMA and it’s just for the fun times.
Make sure you get to the bar early. The main card starts at 10:00 p.m., and GSP fights at around 11:45. However, you should arrive at the bar no later than 9:30 p.m., because it will get full. Champ’s and Bifteck on St. Laurent, or Peel Pub and McLean’s on Peel offer great experiences for fights. Barring a late arrival, you can walk up and down St. Laurent, hoping that some bars will let you in. Note that most bars will charge cover, as owners see this as a great opportunity to make some extra money. If the desire really strikes you, you can even head down to the Bell Centre to pick up the few tickets left unsold, or try your luck with scalpers.
The amazing atmosphere of these fights can only truly be appreciated in person. So head on down to local bars with the rest of Montreal as it admirably cheers on the hometown athlete. I’ll be at the Bell Centre, and I hope to see some fellow McGillians there.
