UFC exec Tom Wright says UFC 140 likely for Dec. 10 in Montreal

Toronto may now hold the North American attendance record for mixed martial arts event, but Montreal remains a hotbed for the sport.

And according to UFC Canada director of operations Tom Wright, Canada's second-largest city will likely host another UFC event before year's end.

On Wednesday's new edition of Montreal's "Ringside Report Radio," Wright said the promotion is targeting Dec. 10 for a return to the city's 23,000-seat Bell Centre.

"Most likely we'll be back in Montreal on Dec. 10," Wright said. "It would be (UFC) 140."

Prior to April's UFC 129 event, which drew 55,000-plus fans to Toronto's Rogers Centre, the UFC's three largest crowds were all earned in Montreal, with more than 21,000 fans packing Bell Centre on three different occasions.

The UFC's most recent trip to the venue took place on Dec. 11, 2010, when Georges St-Pierre defeated Josh Koscheck at "UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck II."

If booked, UFC 140 will mark the promotion's fifth visit to the city in the past four years. Wright was careful to warn Canadian fans that nothing was yet set in stone but indicated the company remains focused on catering to its rabid Montreal fanbase.

"[Dec. 10] is one of several dates we've got held," Wright said. "We haven't made any final decisions, but we've been in Montreal on that weekend now – we were there in 2009 and 2010, and it's certainly in the mix for 2011.

"We haven't made any final decisions. There are a bunch of different places not only in Canada but in North America that we're looking at, but we've got a great fanbase in Quebec, and Bell Centre is one of the best venues in North America to hold (an event)."

"Ringside Report Radio" airs Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights on Montreal's Team 990 CKGM-AM.