Fans call for boycott of UFC 206 over GSP's contract dispute
Georges St-Pierre's contractual standoff with the UFC has drawn the ire of its Canadian constituents.
After several stagnant months spent trying to renegotiate his contract, the welterweight legend declared himself a free agent last Monday, a claim the promotion wasted little time in disputing. The conflicting statements from both sides not only hint at an imminent legal battle, they also take a sledgehammer to rumors of GSP ending a three-year hiatus against Anderson Silva at December's UFC 206 in Toronto.
Since the dream matchup will remain just that, disgruntled fans have rallied on Twitter to launch a boycott of the event:
HELLO, CANADA AND GSP FANS AROUND THE WORLD!
— @MMAG33K (@MMAG33K) October 18, 2016
Join us in supporting a true legend of the sport we all love.#BOYCOTTUFC206 #FREEGSP pic.twitter.com/qQGBoZockV
Have bought every ppv over last 12 years, except if I've attended the event or watched at a bar ...I will #boycott206 over this GSP bullshit
— The Human One (@OneMoodyHuman) October 23, 2016
#boycottufc206 #BOYCOTT206 @ufc @danawhite waited for a long time for a toronto card and this is what we get??? @GeorgesStPierre
— Bino Baybay (@BinoBaybay) October 23, 2016
Add me 2 the list of those Canadians. Been waiting 3 years for UFC 2 come back 2 Toronto, with a good card. #UFC206 aint that #BoycottUFC206
— Mahippal (@mahippalsidhu) October 23, 2016
I support the #ufc #BOYCOTT206 @danawhite @MMAFighting @MMAjunkie #Toronto... Get #GSP on it or else what's the fuckin' point.
— Zed Allin (@shittermytwitr) October 23, 2016
@MohawkJimmy @ufc @UFCTonight with No GSP @ UFC 206... its time to boycott ufc 206. #UFC206 #BoycottUFC206
— James J Raynor (@JamesJRaynor) October 17, 2016
Never missed a @ufc event in #Toronto. Not paying a penny out if principle. #GSP #BOYCOTT206 @danawhite @MMAFighting @MMAjunkie @tsn
— Zhero Nhine (@Zhero_Nhine) October 23, 2016
Ok...@UFC_CA, @ufc and @GeorgesStPierre fans. Lets show these new owners we want him back. #boycott206
— C L McGrath (@CLMcGrath_209) October 17, 2016
True to the fans' chagrin, UFC 206, to be headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between reigning champion Daniel Cormier and Anthony Johnson, is indeed short on star power. The promotion's greatest pay-per-view draw in St-Pierre would have been a boon to both ticket sales and the buyrate, but his absence from the card and the ensuing uproar have put the promotion's hopes of a packed Air Canada Centre in limbo.
Less than a month before Cormier and Johnson square off for the second time, Madison Square Garden will house an unprecedented three title fights at UFC 205. Further belittling the Toronto card is UFC 207, where women's bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes will welcome Ronda Rousey back to the cage, and Dominick Cruz is all but confirmed to defend his 135-pound strap against newfound nemesis Cody Garbrandt.
The promotion's last visit to Toronto in September 2013 saw Jon Jones defend the light heavyweight title in a five-round thriller with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165.
- With h/t to Bloody Elbow