A veritable blizzard of coverage in the Canadian press today in advance of tomorrow night’s UFC 83 event from Montreal. The amount of coverage is borderline insane, and certainly adds to the “big event” feel. Based on the reaction by the Canadian media, the record speed of ticket sales and general hysteria in the country I’m certain there will be more events held there.

Canada has many natural resources

One thing I found interesting is how little antipathy toward the UFC/MMA is expressed. There’s some “the sport has its critics” type stuff in an attempt to provide balance, but none of the utter cluelessness so often seen in the US media. You’ve heard it/read it all before but it usually goes like this–some old “regular guy” sports hack writes/utters brilliance like “Bahhh…I’ve never seen the UFC and know nothing about MMA, but I hate it. It’s the decline of western civilization like John McCain said….bahhh….”

Nothing in these stories is particularly revelatory, but here’s an assortment of the “Dana-Mania”:

Montreal has severe case of fight fever @ Montreal Star

UFC arrives in Canada, no wusses allowed @ National Post

Portrait of a Fighter: Georges St. Pierre @ National Post

UFC celebrates Canadian debut @ Times and Transcript (Moncton, New Brunswick)

UFC and NHL at Slam! Sports

Stage is set for UFC 83 @ Globe and Mail

Who will win UFC 83 @ Slam! Sports

Mike Commadore scores UFC tickets @ Slam! Sports

UFC makes its Canadian debut @ Star Phoenix (Saskatoon)

Them’s Fightin Words @ Edmonton Sun

Montreal has UFC fever @ Canada.com

Hopkins-Calzaghe no second fiddle @ CBC.com

Going from fan to fighter @ Gauntlet Sports

Serra-GSP: Calm before the storm

St. Pierre determined to regain title at UFC 83 @ TSN.ca

The Manly Art, Minus the Artifice @ The Walrus

St. Pierre looks for redemption @ Belleville (Ontario) Intelligencer

Jumping on the bandwagon @ Sportsnet.ca

UFC fandemonium @ Sportsnet.ca