The UFC looks to have a date and location set for their long-rumored return to Australia in 2023.
According to a report released earlier today from Australian media outlet, The West, the UFC is headed back to Perth, Western Australia on the 12th of February 2023. An official announcement is expected to be made early next week by Perth Tourism Minister, Roger Cook.
Cook will be joined at the RAC Arena – where the event is to be held – by current UFC featherweight champion and pound-for-pound #1 fighter on the promotion’s roster, Alexander Volkanovski, to make the announcement.
This event will mark the first time the organization has traveled to Australia since UFC 221 in 2018.
The AllStar MMA roundup
- History: This Week in Combat Sports with ‘The Bane’
- Return: Casey O’Neill hints at March return, teases change in divisions
- Breakdown: Johnny Eblen doesn’t feel Alex Pereira possesses “crafty” Israel Adesanya’s kryptonite
- UFC Vegas 62: Brandon Davis: The fighter who scrapped his way back into the UFC on one good knee
- Breakdown: Islam Makhachev is like Khabib Nurmagomedov but with better striking, says Matt Frevola
The best of the rest
- Francis Ngannou may be UFC champ worth millions, but he says ‘you never feel’ like you’ve made it’ – MMAFighting.com
- Daniel Rodriguez out of Neil Magny fight at UFC Vegas 62 due to elbow infection – MMAFighting.com
- Jake Paul brushes off Eddie Hearn suing him over fight fixing claims: ‘I’m 5-0 in lawsuits’ – MMAJunkie.com
- Sean O’Malley advises Bo Nickal to ‘trust the ride:’ ‘The UFC is going to put you where you need to be’ – MMAJunkie.com
- Coach: Aspen Ladd ‘gets to be at the weight she’s always wanted to be at’ for PFL – MMAMania.com
The soapbox
Alex Pereira poking at Izzy:
Rafael Fiziev throwing shade at Justin Gaethje:
Triple C’s thoughts on Conor’s next opponent:
Tom Aspinall on PED use:
Hasbulla up to old tricks:
Uriah Hall to make pro boxing debut opposite Le’Veon Ball:
The morning view
JHK spars with Da Un Jung:
GSP and Stylebender exchange knowledge over steak:
Relive the top moments of Charles Oliveira’s career:
Conor McGregor shows off some grappling:
Done deals
Friday
- Rafael Dos Anjos to fight Bryan Barberena at UFC Orlando on December 3rd (per Raphael Marinho)
- Frankie Edgar to fight Chris Gutierrez at UFC 281 on November 12th (per Brett Okamoto)
- Allan Nascimento to fight Carlos Hernandez at UFC Vegas 67 on January 14th (per Carlos Legaspi)
- Said Nurmagomedov to fight Saidyokub Kakhramonov at UFC Vegas 66 on December 17th (per Red Fury MMA)
Thursday
- Stephen Thompson to fight Kevin Holland at UFC Orlando on December 3rd (per Kevin Holland/UFC announcement)
- Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to fight Ihor Potieria at UFC 283 on January 21st (per Alex Behunin)
- Yazmin Jauregui to fight Istela Nunes at UFC Orlando on December 3rd (per UFC announcement)
Wednesday
- Darren Till to fight Dricus Du Plessis at UFC282 on December 10th. (per Brett Okamoto)
- Cheyanne Vlismas to fight Cory McKenna at UFC Vegas 66 on December 17th (per Alex Behunin)
- Chase Sherman to fight Josh Parisian at UFC Vegas 64 on November 5th (per Nolan King)
- Hayisaer Maheshate to fight Rafa Garcia at UFC Vegas 66 on December 17th. (per Garcia’s management)
Tuesday
- Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo to fight interim champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 283 on January 21st (per Rodrigo Del Campo Gonzales)
- Ronnie Lawrence to fight Cameron Saaiman at UFC 282 on December 10th (per Mike Heck)
- Drakkar Klose to fight Mark O. Madsen at UFC Vegas 63 on October 29th (per Vegas Insider)
- Josh Parisian to fight Chase Sherman at UFC Vegas 64 on November 5th (per Nolan King)
Monday
- None to note
On this day in MMA…
On the 7th of October, 2017, Demetrious Johnson made his final successful UFC flyweight title defense at UFC 216 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Johnson was scheduled opposite Ray Borg to defend the flyweight title for a historic 11th time and entered the bout as a -1200 favorite.
In the fifth round, following a dominant 20 prior minutes for Johnson, he secured one of the most spectacular submissions of all time with a flying armbar, exacting a tap from Borg. The world was in awe.
Mighty Mouse’s reign atop the 125-pound division was close to its end, however. In just his next bout, Johnson would lose the flyweight title to Henry Cejudo. Following that defeat, the UFC would trade their most successful champion (at the time) to ONE Championship in exchange for Ben Askren.