UFC targets Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as location for June event

If all goes according to plan, the UFC will return to The Great White North this summer.

The promotion is closing in on an event June 20 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. While the exact name of the event has not been designated, it’s expected to be either an ESPN or ESPN+ event.

Thursday, MMA Junkie confirmed the targeted location and date with a person with knowledge of the situation following an initial report by MMA Fighting.

At this time, no fights have been revealed for the card.

The event will mark the first time in almost five years the UFC has visited the city. In August 2015, the promotion held their first event in Saskatoon, UFC Fight Night 74. The event aired on Fox Sports 1 and featured a headling bout between Max Holloway and Charles Oliviera.

To the dismay of the enthusiastic Saskatchewan crowd, the main event ended in less-than-ideal fashion. Just 99 seconds into the opening round, Oliviera suffered an unusual throat injury. The injury caused the bout to be waived off in favor of Holloway and the event to come to an unfortunate ending.

The UFC currently has a handful of Western Canada-based fighters who could appear on the card, including Cole Smith, Tristan Connelly, Sarah Moras, and Sheldon Westcott.