Bell Centre in Montreal is one of the most historic UFC venues in history and the undisputed flagship arena for the promotion in Canada. Home to the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, the downtown arena can seat over 21,000 for combat sports and famously produced some of the loudest crowds the UFC has ever experienced, particularly during Georges St-Pierre’s title run. Its central location, deep local combat sports culture, and cross-border draw from Ontario and the northeastern United States make it a high-impact site whenever the Octagon comes to town.
Montreal hosted the UFC’s very first Canadian event, UFC 83 in April 2008, when St-Pierre reclaimed his welterweight title from Matt Serra in front of a record crowd at Bell Centre. Since then, the venue has staged multiple numbered events including UFC 97, UFC 113, UFC 124, UFC 158, UFC 186, and the recent UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena, giving it the highest UFC event count of any Canadian building. The arena is synonymous with the peak years of St-Pierre’s career and remains a symbol of the UFC’s long-term investment in the Canadian market.
Three biggest fights at Bell Centre
UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre 2 (April 19, 2008)
Card highlights:
- Georges St-Pierre vs. Matt Serra 2 (welterweight title)
- Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter
- Michael Bisping vs. Charles McCarthy
- Demian Maia vs. Ed Herman
In front of a reported 21,390 fans, St-Pierre dominated Serra with takedowns and top control before stopping him with knees to the body from top position late in the second round, avenging his upset loss and re-establishing himself as champion. The event marked the UFC’s triumphant debut in Canada and instantly positioned Montreal as one of the world’s premier MMA cities.
UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2 (December 11, 2010)
Card highlights
- Georges St-Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck 2 (welterweight title)
- Stefan Struve vs. Sean McCorkle
- Jim Miller vs. Charles Oliveira
- Mac Danzig vs. Joe Stevenson
- Thiago Alves vs. John Howard
St-Pierre put on a five-round striking clinic, battering Koscheck with jabs and combinations en route to a unanimous decision that saw all judges score the fight 50–45, while the Bell Centre crowd created one of the most hostile environments a challenger has faced. The dominant performance further cemented St-Pierre’s status as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena (May 10, 2025)
Card highlights:
Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight title), plus a supporting cast featuring top contenders as the UFC returns to Montreal for the first time in 10 years. UFC 315 is billed as a “blockbuster” that continues Bell Centre’s tradition of hosting championship bouts, marking the eighth UFC card in the building and underscoring its importance as the most-used venue in Canada.
Event information, seating charts, and ticket options for UFC nights in Montreal are available on the Bell Centre’s official website at centrebell.ca
For historical features on St-Pierre’s Montreal fights and previews for UFC 315, MMASucka’s UFC and Canadian MMA coverage at mmasucka.com
main image credit: IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire