Cote Eyes March Return in Canadian Promotion

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Former UFC title contender Patrick Cote is currently in contract negotiations with a Canadian promotion.

Which one Cote will sign with is still a mystery, however.

Sherdog spoke with a source close to the situation Tuesday morning who confirmed that Cote was close to signing a deal and that his return to competition would probably be in March. The source would not reveal the name of the promotion negotiating with Cote.

Upon learning that the promotion in question had television and pay-per-view exposure, Sherdog contacted the Edmonton, Alberta-based Maximum Fighting Championship. Although Cote had talked to the MFC about fighting for them, MFC officials relayed that Cote and the promotion had not spoken in “a while,” and that there was likely no deal to be had in the foreseeable future.

Sherdog then contacted Toronto-based promotion Warrior-1 MMA, speaking to W-1 president Jack Bateman via email. Though the W-1 exec admitted to negotiating with Cote, he relayed that he could not go into detail.

“We have been in talks with Mr. Cote's management, and it is our understanding that Mr. Cote is currently weighing all of his options,” said Bateman. “Regardless of outcome, we wish Mr. Cote success in whatever direction he chooses.”

Bateman added that he had not spoken directly to Cote's management in the last week. Sherdog also attempted to contact the Edmonton-based The Fight Club, but could not reach owner Mark Sinclair for comment.

Cote was recently cut by the UFC after three-straight losses in the Octagon. In his bid to capture the UFC middleweight crown against Anderson Silva in 2008, Cote suffered a nasty knee injury that kept him sidelined for nearly a year and a half. Upon his return to the cage, he was submitted by Alan Belcher in May at UFC 113. The French-Canadian then fell to “TUF” alum Tom Lawlor at UFC 121 in October, losing a clear-cut unanimous decision.

Sherdog will keep abreast of the negotiations, which will likely come to a head by this weekend, and report on the matter when a deal is signed.