23 Feb Jens Pulver, Pete Spratt and more added to Instinct MMA 4 in Montreal – Ringside Report + Wrestling Uncensored

Instinct MMA 4 will take place in May in Montreal, Quebec and will feature a light-heavyweight main event of Steve Bosse (9-1) v. Renato “Babalu” Sobral (36-9). Instinct MMA president Stephane Patry recently appeared on Ringside Report Radio and revealed more big names planned for Instinct 4.
Patry announced former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver (25-16) would make his Instinct MMA debut in May in Montreal. Though no opponent has been named for Pulver, Patry indicated it could be someone fighting at Instinct 3 on March 31 in Sherbrooke, Quebec. “Jens Pulver’s opponent could be someone that is fighting on March 31. So I want to wait for some of the results,” Patry said. Pulver currently fights at bantamweight and would make a good challenge for top Quebec prospect Stephane Pelletier (5-1) who is scheduled to fight in one of three bantamweight bouts at Instinct 3.
Stephane Patry also announced Pete Spratt (24-21) will return to Instinct MMA in May after a TKO win over Martin Grandmont (12-6) at Instinct 2 on December 2, 2011 in Quebec City, Quebec. Grandmont will be headlining Instinct 3 on March 31 versus Team Grudge product Brandon Thatch (6-1) but is also scheduled to face UFC veteran Phil Baroni (14-14) in May. “Whether he wins or loses on March 31, he’s fighting Baroni in May,” Patry said “Obviously the only thing that could prevent that fight from happening is a big suspension or a 60 day (suspension) if he loses that fight.” Patry also has plans for Brandon Thatch to fight again for Instinct MMA after a first round TKO win over Patrick Vallee (7-2) at Instinct 2. “Brandon is fighting on March 31 and he’s also fighting in May in Montreal.”
Undefeated light-heavyweight prospect Todd Stoute (4-0) is also one of the fighters competing at Instinct 3 that could be in the plans for the May show. Stoute is from Toronto, Ontario and is 2-0 in Instinct MMA with a co-main event bout at Instinct 3 versus Sebastien Gauthier (6-2). “Todd Stoute if he does well wants to be on the May card as well. A lot of the top guys that are fighting in March in Sherbrooke most of them obviously if there is no injury or suspension will be on the Montreal card.”
Recent Instinct signee Moise Rimbon (18-9) is set to make his promotional debut against a yet unannounced opponent on March 31 but is also slated to fight in Montreal. “ Moise Rimbon who we just signed is going to fight on March 31 is also going to fight in May, if he’s not injured. So, a lot will depend on Sherbrooke.”
Stephane Patry also revealed ongoing negotiations with Eric Esch aka Butterbean (14-10) who fought at Instinct 1 in October 2011. “I’ve been talking to Butterbean in the last couple of days about fighting in May.” Patry said, “ I have an opponent in mind, I just need to make sure he’s healed. He’s injured as we speak. If his opponent is ready to go and he’s healed I think we’re going to have a barn-burner.”
Patry also dismissed stories of Renato “Babalu” Sobral fighting on March 31 in Singapore for ONE FC against Melvin Manhoef. ““Babalu is not fighting on March 31,” Patry stated, “He was scheduled to fight for the One FC promotion against some Japanese Judo player. He showed up in Singapore at the press conference only to learn that his opponent had changed without anybody telling him and that he was now fighting Melvin Manhoef.” Patry also told Ringside Report Radio that Babalu is currently helping Wanderlei Silva coach The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil leading up to Silva’s fight with his opposing coach, Vitor Belfort. “Right now he’s one of the trainers on The Ultimate Fighter with Wanderlei Silva. All he does 24 hours a day is train, eat, sleep.” Patry also noted that UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum would be in Babalu’s corner for his bout with Steve Bosse.
Although Instinct 4 will take place in May, Patry did not give an exact date. “We don’t know for sure the date in May yet. It could be the end of May. It could be the middle of May. We don’t know yet,” Patry said.  “Honestly I’m talking with 3 different venues right now in Montreal. That’s one of the reasons why I can’t announce the exact date. I reserved a couple of dates with the commission but each venue has a different schedule conflict. So it can’t be the same day in all three venues, otherwise I would tell the date already,” Patry told Ringside Report Radio. “We know that a fight between Babalu and Bosse will bring at least 8000 people. So if you do your research you will find out (which venues are possible). ”
Patry also stated he wanted to do “something special” for Instinct’s first show in Montreal.  “We’re going to do stuff like meet-and-greets. We’re probably going to do afternoon fights free for the fans. So whoever has never seen MMA live before will be able to come in for free. Watch 3 or 4 fights that we’re going to offer there and buy tickets to see the big card at night.”
Instinct MMA 4
May 2012
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date and Location TBA
Steve Bosse (9-1) v. Renato “Babalu” Sobral (36-9)- 205 lbs. (light-heavyweight)
Martin Grandmont (12-6) v. Phil Baroni (14-14)- 170 lbs. (welterweight)
Pete Spratt (24-21) v. TBA- 170 lbs. (welterweight)
Jens Pulver (25-16) v. TBA- 135 lbs. (bantamweight)
Jason Courchesne (2-0) v. TBA – 170 lbs. (welterweight)
Todd Stoute (4-0) v. TBA*** 205 lbs. (light-heavyweight)
Brandon Thatch (6-1) v. TBA*** 170 lbs. (welterweight)
Eric “Butterbean” Esch (14-10) v. TBA*** 265 lbs. (heavyweight)
Moise Rimbon (18-9) v. TBA *** 205 lbs. (light-heavyweight)
***tentatively scheduled to fight