UFC’s Ultimate Fighting Column: Dana White promises blockbuster lineup for UFC 193 in Australia

UFC president Dana White has opened up on creating the biggest fight night in Australia’s history, saying: “I’m bringing a card that’s going to deliver”.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White.

UFC president Dana White has opened up on creating the biggest fight night in Australia’s history, saying: “I’m bringing a card that’s going to deliver”.

In his first Aussie interview since the Victorian elections -- which has effectively legalised the UFC in Melbourne -- White has promised to debut in the southern city with a “powerful” list of bouts.

While the UFC boss wouldn’t talk specifics for UFC 193, which is scheduled for Etihad Stadium on November 15, he did hint at creating an event worthy of 50,000 fans.

“Going into any market for the first time -- it’s a powerful thing. It’s big,’’ White said from his Las Vegas base.

“And for the first time in Melbourne, I want to bring a card that is going to deliver. Really get fans excited.

“I’ve said it a million times and I’ll say it a million more, the fans in Australia are awesome. “Not only do you guys turn up to fights, but the energy you bring is incredible ... I can’t wait to get back there.”

Asked if he felt vindicated by the Melbourne decision, White continued: “I wouldn’t say vindicated -- that’s not the way I think.

“I mean, we got Melbourne done before New York. We got Russia done before New York.

“I can certainly say, however, it feels good. I knew it was only a matter of time ... and the time is now.”

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph a fortnight ago, the UFC is considering a host of superstar names -- including Jon Jones and Ronda Rousey -- for the Etihad Stadium event next November, with one and possibly two title belts going on the line.

Another fighter who would assure the ‘Full House’ sign is CM Punk, the WWE wrestler who confirmed over the weekend he is switching to the UFC.

Ronda Rousey is a likely name for Melbourne

While Punk will almost certainly debut on a US Pay-Per-View, one Australian fighter who would love to see him appear in Melbourne is heavyweight Soa Palelei. Asked his thoughts on a professional wrestler switching to the Octagon, WWE fan Palelei said: “I don’t think anyone can write the guy off before we see him fight.

“Brock Lesnar was a great example of that. People underestimated him -- saying he didn’t have the skills to compete in MMA.

“But Lesnar won the heavyweight championship.

“One thing in CM Punk’s favour is that he is used to the big occasion ...I’m looking forward to watching him fight”.

Chambers looks to the sky

ALEX Chambers, the first Aussie female to compete in the UFC, has revealed her secret strategy to preparing for big fights -- she studies the stars.

“When I need a break from training, definitely, I like to get outside at night and look at the stars,’’ she told The Daily Telegraph this week. “That or getting onto the internet and reading up on astrophysics.”

Despite once being headed for a career in robotics engineering, Chambers will instead become Australia’s first female UFC fighter in Las Vegas this Saturday.

Three bouts later, on the The Ultimate Fighter: 20 Finale card, tattooed Queensland mum Bec Rawlings will become our second.

It is a remarkable switch of job decriptions for the 36-year-old Sydneysider who, dubbed ‘Astro Girl, completed a double degree at university in science and mechatronics engineering.

“The original plan was to be an engineer, working in robotics,’’ she says. “But at the time I was also competing internationally at karate and, the higher I went in sport, the less of a priority my studies became.

“I was also really interested in physics and astronomy so I finished my degree, but knew I wanted to follow my martial arts career.”

For a while, Chambers reveals she also found a way to combine both her loves.

“When I was studying robotics, I was always thinking of building fighting robots,’’ she laughs. “Fighting is physics and always in the back of my mind was testing the forces of punches and kicks.”

Involved in karate since age eight, Chambers lost her first bout on the TUF 20 show, but insists she has enjoyed a far different preparation for the finale, where she fights Irish rival Aisling Daly.

“I lost that first fight before I stepped inside the Octagon,’’ she says. “Mentally, I wasn’t there at all.

“The guys at Team Pettis, I loved training with them and learned so much, but they didn’t really know me well. They knew my opponent a lot better so a lot of the preparation was focused on her, rather than my own game. So I didn’t fight my fight.

“I’m a huge fan of Anthony Pettis and the experience was great. But being back around my own team, my focus is back on me. Imposing my will.”

The Ultimate Fighter: 20 Finale will be screened live on Fox Sports 2 this Saturday. Preliminaries from 11am. Main card from 1pm.

Australian UFC fighter Hector Lombard.

Lombard gets the fans’ vote

APART from cult heavyweight Mark Hunt, which Australian fighter would prove the biggest draw for UFC 193?

Well, according to last week’s online poll: Hector Lombard ... in a landslide.

After tallying some 3000 votes, The Daily Telegraph can reveal 40% of fight fans want Lombard on the Melbourne blockbuster. Then comes Sydneysider Robert Whittaker (16%), rising lightweight Jake Matthews (15.5%) and light heavyeight James Te Huna (11.5%).

As revealed last month, champions Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey, even rising star Conor McGregor are all being considered for one, and perhaps two, title fights at Etihad Stadium in November, 2015.

While yet to be officially confirmed, White and key members of his staff have already begun planning for the massive Pay-Per-View, which could potentially smash all records currently held by the famed 2006 boxing bout between Anthony Mundine and Danny Green.

Who are you?

GOTTA love Aussie fighter James Te Huna, who had only one question before welcoming CM Punk into the UFC: Who is he?

While social media went into meltdown over the weekend following Punk’s defection from the WWE, Te Huna admitted he was among the few who wondered what all the fuss was about.

“I don’t watch professional wrestling so I had no idea,’’ the Sydneysider laughed. “I actually had to Google his name.

“But good luck to him. Other professional wrestlers have made the switch ... and it won’t take long to work out if this is for him or not.”

Dana White has promised big names for Melbourne

Matthews eyes next bout

MELBOURNE lightweight Jake Matthews says he will again call out rising American Joe Ellenberger should the 29-year-old win his UFC Fight Night: Phoenix bout this Sunday.

While most eyes will be on the main event between heavyweights Junior Dos Santos and Stipe Miocic, Matthews is keen to see if Ellenberger, the twin brother of popular welterweight Joe Ellenberger, can go 2-0 in the UFC.

“If Joe wins, I want him to be next for me, yes,’’ the Victorian said. “I’ve already called him out once and I would like to stick to that.

“We’d both be two-and-zero, plus he has the Ellenberger name. It would be a big fight

“So I’m willing to sit and wait. I think he’d be right by late February early March.”

# UFC Fight Night Pheonix will screen live on Fox Sports 2 this Sunday. Preliminaries from 9am. Main card from 12 noon.

Judges call say....

Sydney welterweight Richie Walsh admits, like many, he thought Johny Hendricks did enough to retain his division’s title at UFC 181 last Sunday. Asked about the split decision result which gave the belt to challenger Robbie Lawler, Walsh told The Daily Telegraph: “You’d think a fight like that ... would sway in favour of the champion.

“There’s no doubting it was super close. (But) from my perspective, for a challenger to win, they’ve got to be decisive in either finishing the fight or dominating over the whole fight.

“You’d think if a fight goes the distance and it’s close, the result would sway in favour of the champion.

“But you just don’t know what the judges are going to do sometimes. I mean, it happened in my fight in Japan, which I clearly won.”

Intentions are all bad

BRISBANE lightweight Brendan O’Reilly is predicting a bumper UFC debut for his training partner and fellow Queenslander, Rowdy Bec Rawlings.

“Bec is looking great for her UFC debut,’’ O’Reilly said this week. “She’s going into this fight with bad intentions -- her toughness and intensity is second to none.

“It’s been a pleasure to train her as she developed into the fighter she is today. I see Bec’s pressure and desire being too much for (rival Heather Jo Clark) ... she understands how much this opportunity will change both her life of her and her family’s life.

Originally published as UFC’s Ultimate Fighting Column: Dana White promises blockbuster lineup for UFC 193 in Australia