UFC 158 Nearing Sellout Status, Already Producing Higher Gate Than Last Trip to Montreal

As much attention the Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz have drawn for UFC 158, the event has yet to sell out, but don’t expect it to remain that way.

“I’m expecting a sellout,” said UFC president Dana White following the UFC 158  pre-fight press conference. “We have like 1,100 tickets left.”

St-Pierre is the most popular fighter on the UFC’s roster and is its biggest draw, so selling 1,100 tickets in the final three days in his hometown isn’t a stretch by any means.

But even if the UFC couldn’t move all 1,100 remaining tickets, White is pleased with the revenue St-Pierre vs. Diaz is generating. It’s already, without being a sellout, blasted past the promotion’s last trip to the Bell Centre.

UFC 154, which took place last November featuring St-Pierre defending against Carlos Condit, sold 17,249 tickets producing gate receipts of $3.143 million. This weekend’s UFC 158 event has already produced a higher return.

“Last time we were here the gate was $3.1 million,” said White. “We’re at $3.5 million right now.”

Sellout or not UFC 158 is already a financial success for the company, and that’s not counting St-Pierre’s immense pay-per-view drawing power, but don’t expect those 1,100 tickets to be available once the Octagon door shuts on Saturday night.