Why Australia should always be a date on the UFC calendar

UFC president Dana White has called Australia the forgotten country, and will make amends with more fight cards.

Australian UFC fighters (from left to right) Soa Palelei, Ben Wall, Anthony Perosh, Mark Hunt, James Te Huna, Dylan Andrews, ...

UFC president Dana White has called Australia the forgotten country, and will make amends by making fight cards a permanent part of the UFC calendar.

Tomorrow's UFC Fight Night in Brisbane has sold out all 12,000 tickets, commanding a gate of $1.7 million.

Seven Australian fighters feature on the card - Soa Palelei, Ben Wall, Anthony Perosh, Mark Hunt, James Te Huna, Dylan Andrews, Richie Vasulick and Robert Whittaker - which will be broadcast live into 120 million homes in America in prime time. It will be shown live on Fuel TV in Australia starting at 10am (EDT) to cater for the US market.

"Australia is an incredible market for us," White said.

"We've just finished filming a new series of The Ultimate Fighter, Canada versus Australia.

"Everything couldn't be better. Australia is awesome, it's on fire."

A mean looking Mark Hunt raises his fists.

The UFC staged 36 events around the world this year and plans to increase to between 45 and 54 next year, with a view to Australia becoming a permanent home on the UFC calendar.

The only obstacle is legislation in Victoria and Western Australia that prevents mixed martial arts events taking place in a caged octagon, with both State governments demanding the fights take place in a boxing ring.

The UFC refuses to budge and will not hold fights in a boxing ring, citing studies that show fighters are much safer in the

Hunt's opponent Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva. Picture: Darren England.

enclosed cage which eliminates the risk of fighters falling through and onto the ropes.

Yet White is keen to keep pushing events to Australia, saying it is a natural market for the sport.

"The stupid thing about me is, I'm pretty dialled in my whole life to the fight game," he said.

"But I never really thought of Australia. Australia is such a rough and tough type of place.

"Obviously, this thing works there."

UFC Australia managing director Tom Wright said both States are denying themselves a financial boost, using a recent event in Canada as an example.

"The economic impact was north of $40 million," he said.

He then cited the Victorian government spending millions of dollars to attract international event such as the Formula One grand prix.

The UFC, he said, was different.

"We're not asking the Government to write us a big fat cheque," he said.

"We just want them to think about the health and safety of the athletes, to think about the opportunity for the sport to grow.

"I'm going to continue to push it."

UFC fighter Rob Whittaker is put in a rear-naked choke by Brisbane Lions player Pearce Hanley. Picture: Peter Wallis.