By Ryan Pilon

UFC’s Diego Sanchez coming to Prince Albert and La Ronge

Jun 11, 2011 | 11:41 AM

UFC fighter Diego Sanchez is coming to Prince Albert.

He’ll be making an appearance at the Stellar Gear store in Gateway Mall on July 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“It’s always huge for us to bring any type of MMA fighter, it’s our passion, we absolutely love MMA and UFC and anything related to it,” said Danya Mousseau, owner of Stellar Gear.

The store has brought in UFC fighters before, such as Patrick Côté and Matt Hughes. However, Mousseau said it isn’t easy to bring these superstars in for appearances.

“It’s actually not that easy. It’s a lot of banging on doors, making phone calls and getting shut down,” said Mousseau.

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“It’s a lot of money too.”

If turnouts from other fighters’ appearances are any indication, it is money well spent.

“We had Patrick Côté and Stam Stout in August of 2010 at our Prince Albert location, and we had a three-hour lineup,” Mousseau said.

“They signed autographs and took pictures for three solid hours, and they said, ‘Wow, that’s amazing, you don’t see that every day.’”

Trevor Anderson with Cranked MMA said that after his appearance in Prince Albert, Sanchez will travel north to La Ronge to attend an MMA event there.

Mousseau said this isn’t the only UFC superstar who’s going to make an appearance in Saskatchewan this summer.

On July 15, a number of UFC fighters are coming to Saskatoon to take part in the First Annual Stellar Gear MMA/UFC Golf Tournament at the Moon Lake Golf & Country Club.

Mousseau said Rory MacDonald, Patrick Côté and Jonathan Fitch are all confirmed, and they’re also hoping Roy “Big Country” Nelson, Clay Guida, and UFC ring girl Brittney Palmer will be coming as well.

rpilon@panow.com