UFC releases study saying Montreal show in May was an economic boon to local economy

The UFC says UFC 315, staged May 10 at the Bell Centre, generated $38.2 million in economic impact for the Montreal metropolitan area.

The study, conducted by research firm Applied Analysis, was released Wednesday by the UFC, 10 days before its return to Vancouver with a Fight Night card.

The Montreal show drew a sellout crowd of more than 19,700 with a gate of $8.4 million, making it the highest-grossing sporting event — other than hockey — in Bell Centre history. The UFC says about 61 per cent of attendees came from outside Montreal, including every province and several international markets.

The study says direct spending attributable to the event exceeded $18.6 million, with total economic activity reaching $38.2 million “after accounting for the ripple effect generated from vendor purchases (indirect impact) and employee spending (induced impact).”

It also concludes that the Montreal show supported 227 local employees and $14.6 million in salaries and wages (not including athletes’ purses). The event generated $3.9 million in taxes, including ticket and pay-per-view taxes paid by UFC and taxes on visitor spending (sales, lodging, etc.).

UFC 315 marked the UFC’s eighth show in Montreal — and first since UFC 186 in April 2015 — and the 35th overall in Canada, spread among 11 cities.

The main event at UFC 315, the mixed martial arts promotion’s first show in Montreal since UFC 186 in 2015, saw Australian Jack Della Maddalena dethrone welterweight champion Belal (Remember The Name) Muhammad. Las Vegas-based Kyrgyz Valentina (Bullet) Shevchenko defended her women’s flyweight title against France’s Manon (the Beast) Fiorot in the co-main event.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025