Plagued with numerous lineup changes that would send any other fight card into disarray, the newly formed Apex Championship Fighting organization’s inaugural show would prove to be quite the test for the promotion’s organizers. It seemed as though every passing day that drew closer to the debut show brought with it more and more bad news about the originally scheduled lineup, as well as dismal news of low ticket sales.

But, the show must go on, and Apex organizers were resilient and fought through the challenges, finding replacements for nearly every fighter that, for various reasons, would not be able to participate.

Taking place in the Pierre Charbonneau Center in Montreal, an ambitious choice of venue for a first show, Apex Championship Fighting: Genesis played host to a multitude of MMA personalities, including commentators Stephen Quadros and Frank Trigg, Canadian standouts David Loiseau, Joe Doerksen and Georges St.Pierre, and American MMA authorities Matt Lindland, Denis Hallman and Mark Coleman.

The energy and excitement could be felt in the air at the show’s beginning, as fans waited with anticipation to witness the birth of a new force in Canadian MMA, although a hint of nervousness was far from absent—would, after the numerous lineup changes, fight cancellations, and reports of low ticket sales, the newly formed Apex organization be able to hold together and deliver an event worthy enough to keep the organization alive and keep the interest of fight fans?

Despite the number of vacant seats in the house, the energy was high, and those who had traveled from throughout Canada and the U.S. were ready to see what Apex had to offer. Fans were not disappointed with what they were offered.