Two fights added for stacked UFC 312 in Sydney

A month out from his debut at Sydney’s UFC 312, 25-year-old Jonathan Micallef has ambitions which will catapult Australia’s MMA scene to heights it has never seen before.

Just five years ago, Jonathan Micallef had never trained or had any desire to be a fighter.

Now just a month out from a debut at Sydney’s UFC 312, the 25-year-old has ambitions which will catapult Australia’s MMA scene to heights it has never seen before.

Competing as a welterweight, Micallef is hoping his first fight in the UFC is the start of a journey to eventually meet top-ranked Australian star Jack Della Maddalena for a future world title fight.

“That would really be a great fight for me,” Micallef said.

“It would give both of us the opportunity to show how good Australian mixed martial arts is.”

Jonathan Micallef has high aspirations. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Jack Della Maddalena is the goal. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Dedicating the past five years of his life to MMA, the UFC newest Aussie fighter and his family went to unmeasurable lengths to ensure his dreams of competing at the highest level became a reality.

Even going as far as having an induced birth of his son so he could compete for a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series late last year.

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“It was a big point in my life,” he said.

“We had to make the decision to either put myself in a great spot and have the chance to fight in the UFC, or pass it by and be there for my son.

“Luckily I got to do both with my very supportive partner choosing to have him induced, before flying out and supporting me two weeks after he was born.”

Micallef and his partner’s sacrifice paid off with the young Aussie being awarded a contract after a first round submission win, and he will now will take on fellow welterweight Kevin Jousset in Sydney.

Micallef will fight Kevin Jousset (L). Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Jousset, who trains out of City Kickboxing with the likes of former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and top-ranked lightweight Dan Hooker, is looking to bounce back off his first UFC loss last September.

Although only finding out his opponent at the start of this week, Micallef feels that he has been preparing for a fight with Jousset for years after coming up through the regional scene with his opponent.

“He’s a name that has been floated around our team for a long time now … definitely been on my mind the last couple of years,” Micallef said.

Micallef is confident he’ll leave Sydney with his hand raised. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Micallef will make his UFC debut on the same card as longtime friend and mentor Jimmy Crute, who is making his return after what will be an 18-month hiatus.

Crute has cornered Micallef since his second amateur fight, with the two developing a strong bond in the training room.

And while many criticised Crute’s past few performances, Micallef is confident both fighters will leave Sydney with their hands raised.

Jimmy Crute. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“The Jimmy of old was a world destroyer, you would almost be scared to train with him,” Micallef said.

“He’s back in the rhythm, I feel sorry for the guy in the cage against him.”

Micallef and Jousette aren’t the only fighters added to what is shaping up as a stacked Sydney card, with brother of featherweight champion Illia Tuporia, Aleksandre, taking on Perth’s own Cody Haddon.