Adelaide could host its first UFC event in 2014

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) could host its first show in Adelaide as early as next year.

Fighters get ready to do battle in front of a sold-out crowd in Sydney at UFC 110.

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) could host its first show in Adelaide as early as next year.

On Monday the UFC announced it will make its Brisbane debut on December 7 with Sydney-based heavyweight Mark Hunt slated to go toe-to-toe with Brazilian giant Antonio `Bigfoot' Silva in the main event.

UFC operations director in Australia and New Zealand Tom Wright said mixed marital arts (MMA) has a huge following Down Under.

``Three to five (events in Australia) each year is what we envision for the next few years,'' Wright said at a press conference. ``Australia is an important market for us.''

The UFC is the world's biggest MMA promotion and fighters compete inside an octagonal cage. As it stands, MMA bouts are legal in Australia, but must be fought inside of a boxing ring in Western Australia and Victoria. The cage is already used in Queensland, New South Wales, Adelaide and Tasmania.

With WA and Victoria scratched as potential hosts (because of the cage ban), South Australia is a strong chance of holding its first UFC event in 2014.

In the past three years, the popularity of MMA in Australia has skyrocketed. The UFC has held four shows on Australian soil with three in Sydney and one on the Gold Coast.

The most recent show in Queensland was a sell-out with more than 5000 tickets snapped up, taking in just under $1 million at the gate.

MMA Downunder's third show in March was the first time a cage was used in Adelaide. The event sold more than 2100 tickets - the most by any Australian MMA promotion in 2012/13.

MMA Downunder 4 is expected to attract up to 2500 spectators for its latest show on September 21 at Adelaide Arena. Paul Slowinski will face Kiwi Leamy Tato in his MMA debut.