The UFC is returning to Australia for the first time since October 2019, with Perth’s RAC Arena to play host to what shapes to be a blockbuster card of homegrown talent.
UFC boss Dana White confirmed the news on Tuesday, adding that a title fight will headline what he described as a “stacked” card.
Watch UFC 280: Oliveira v Makhachev LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo, Sunday 23 October from 15am AEST. ORDER NOW >
“Australia, we’re back,” White said.
“I’m so pumped we are returning to Perth for UFC 284 – it was an amazing host city in 2018 and this February we’re bringing a stacked card headlined with a championship fight. “Australian fans are some of the best in the world and they’ve had to wait a long time for this. I can’t wait to put on another massive show for them. I will see you there.”
The fight card itself is to be announced, although there are a host of Australians who could feature, including featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.
Volkanovski, who confirmed on Tuesday that he will be the backup for UFC 280’s lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev, could be a main attraction.
The Australian, hailing from Windang on NSW’s South Coast, boasts a 25-1 record with his latest victory coming in dominant fashion against Max Holloway in Las Vegas.
Speaking after that win, Volkanovski made it clear he wanted his next title defence to be back home.
“I’m sick of getting booed,” Volkanovski said in his post-fight press conference.
“I’m a nice f***ing guy, I’m getting booed every time I’m fighting in other people’s countries. Everyone is getting home crowd advantages while I’m the champ.
“This trilogy, I didn’t get to fight on my turf at all. Let me f***ing defend my belt back home and we’re gonna do it. Let’s do it. Make it happen.”
Robert Whittaker, who is coming off a unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC Paris, is another Australian who could headline the event.
He could face either current middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya or Alex Pereira, who the Kiwi is facing in his championship defence at UFC 281 in November.
Homegrown talent Jack Della Maddalena is also a strong chance of featuring on the card as he looks to continue his rise in the promotion.
Della Maddalena lost the first two bouts of his professional career but has since rode a 12-fight win streak with 11 finishes (10 knockouts).
The 26-year-old earned a UFC contract via the Contender Series and secured a first-round knockout against Pete Rodriguez in his debut in the promotion.
Fellow Australian Jack Jenkins also earned his shot in the UFC through the Contender series and is another who could play a part in February’s card.
Aussie on the cusp of UFC after beatdown | 00:48
The Victorian is on a seven-fight streak and has an overall 10-2 professional record, with his latest win (TKO) coming over Ecuador’s Freddy Emiliano Linares in Las Vegas.
It will be the first event held in Australia since UFC 243, where Israel Adesanya captured the undisputed middleweight title with a victory over Whittaker.
“We are absolutely thrilled to finally be returning to Australia,” Peter Kloczko, UFC Vice President Australia and New Zealand, said.
“Our athletes, fans and partners have been extremely patient to have a UFC event back on Australian soil. I want to thank the McGowan Government and Tourism Western Australia for their continued support for UFC, MMA and making UFC 284 in Perth possible.”
