UFC returns to Australia with title fight headlining ‘stacked’ card

After three long years, Australia will finally host a UFC card that’s likely to feature several Aussie fighters including Alex Volkanovski.

UFC champ Alex Volkanovski celebrates after defending featherweight title against Brian Ortega at UFC 266.

UFC will finally make its long-awaited return to Australia in February when Perth’s RAC Arena plays host to UFC 284.

UFC president Dana White confirmed the exciting news on Tuesday, revealing a “stacked” fight card will be headlined by a title bout.

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“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.”

It’s yet to be announced who will be on the card and who will contest the title bout, but there are plenty of Australian fighters who could feature including featherweight champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Alex Volkanovski.

The 34-year-old confirmed on Tuesday he will be the backup for UFC 280’s lightweight title fight between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev later in October.

Alex Volkanovski will get the chance to fight in front of a home crowd. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP

Volkanovski wants to become lightweight champion as well and he could feature at the Perth card fighting at lightweight or defending his featherweight belt.

His last outing was a dominant win over Max Holloway in their trilogy fight and the chance to fight in front of a home crowd would be a tantalising prospect.

Several other Australians could feature on the UFC 284 card, including Rob Whittaker, who lost his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya in Melbourne when UFC last came to Australia in 2019.

Whittaker recently defeated Marvin Vettori and his next opponent would likely be Adesanysa or Alex Pereira.

Elsewhere, heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa would be sure to draw a crowd, while Jack Della Maddalena is a strong chance of featuring on the card after making a strong start to his UFC career.

Jack Della Maddalena is another Aussie who could feature on the card. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)

Della Maddalena lost his first two professional fights but has since gone on a 12-fight winning streak with 11 finished (10 knockouts).

Victorian Jack Jenkins was awarded a UFC contract after catching White’s attention with a bloody victory at the Contender Series last month.

“We are absolutely thrilled to finally be returning to Australia,” UFC Vice President Australia and New Zealand Peter Kloczko 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.”