Facing heavy anticipation as one of the most significant fight cards in the promoter's career, Unified MMA 33 was pulled just 48 hours before its Dec. 15 date.
The decision followed a new moratorium on combative sports enacted by Edmonton city council, triggered by the tragic death of former boxer Tim Hague in June.
"The whole purpose of these events is to put these athletes front and center," Unified MMA president Sunny Sareen told reporters. "To have this happen right after fighters invest everything in training camps—that's incredibly frustrating."
Sareen noted that between $25,000 and $30,000 was earmarked for fighter purses. Beyond spending their own money and sacrificing work time to prepare, fighters wouldn't receive the compensation many were depending on to offset training costs.
So @unifiedmma has been canceled by the city. Tell @doniveson and city council that this is an injustice and we need to fix the problems associated with combat sports in our city. I've volunteered to help and give insight from a fighter and coach perspective. Please RT
— Mitch Clarke (@MitchClarkeMMA) December 14, 2017
The ripple effect extended beyond the competitors themselves to encompass every party connected to the card—the venue, medical personnel, sponsors, and all supporting staff.
"There are over 100 employees who work these events, and they were all counting on those paychecks," Sareen explained. "These cards generate significant revenue for our local economy. It's deeply frustrating from a business perspective, and for the team that makes these shows happen."
Why Unified MMA 33 Couldn't Proceed
Sareen learned of the ban just seven days out, a window he felt was insufficient to find a workaround.
"We never got a reasonable shot," Sareen said. "That was really tough."
Each event Sareen promotes requires a licence from the Edmonton Combative Sports Commission (ECSC). He had nearly completed his submission when the ECSC informed him no additional licences could be issued under the city council's directive.
Had he been aware the moratorium was imminent, Sareen would have submitted his final documents immediately and secured his licence ahead of the ban. Typically, he receives licences one to two days before events—a head start that might have made the difference.
Noah Ali was among the fighters whose plans were derailed. He was booked to meet Michael Hay and explained how much he lost just from arriving late to work and taking time off during camp.
"I was banking on that fight to break even and have a bit extra for Christmas," Ali said. "When the bout fell through, I tried to make the money back, but I just couldn't."
While he acknowledged he couldn't recoup the losses from camp, Ali pointed out there were far greater tragedies at hand, including what the Hague family is enduring.
Where Unified MMA Goes From Here
With combative sports halted in Edmonton for at least the coming year, Sareen said he's eager to collaborate with city leaders to have the restriction lifted.
Extremely disappointed in the official decision to cancel @unifiedmma this Friday. I have been talking with several people this week regarding the commission and I will be getting involved. All we can do now is fix the problems and move forward – as quickly and safely as possible
— Victor Valimaki (@V2MMA) December 13, 2017
He stressed that the ECSC remains among the top commissions globally—not part of the issue.
"Our commission is one of the finest in the world," Sareen said. "Their governance is outstanding."
Regarding what comes next for Unified MMA, Sareen's chief objective is partnering with city council to maintain operations in Edmonton. If circumstances improve, he's aiming to stage a card as early as March 2018.
An opportunity is on the horizon for him to address city council directly with his concerns, hoping to restore conditions to how they previously stood.
"Hopefully we can get regulations in place and pick up where we left off eight and a half years ago. We aren't looking to leave—we want to stay."
