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MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 12: Alexander Volkanovski of Australia celebrates after defeating Diego Lopes of Brazil to win the featherweight title during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida. Megan Briggs\/Getty Images\/AFP (Photo by Megan Briggs \/ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA \/ Getty Images via AFP)Source: AFP<\/p>\n
Another option under discussion is having Whittaker top what would be a UFC Fight Night card, with the fighter telling Fox Sports Australia: \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure the UFC is coming back to Sydney in summer \u2026 and my hand is up to headline\u201d.<\/p>\n
UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa is also back in the gym and eyeing off a February hometown return, with the Mt Druitt cult favourite declaring \u201cI\u2019ve got the itch back\u201d. <\/p>\n
While the travelling UFC roadshow is in Perth this week \u2013 with Dom Reyes and Carlos Ulberg headlining Sunday\u2019s RAC Arena card \u2013 talk is also building around proposed plans for Australia\u2019s biggest names.<\/p>\n
Already, new welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena is confirmed for a UFC 322 blockbuster in November \u2013 defending against Islam Makhachev at New York\u2019s famed Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n
Volkanovski was also thought to be defending his UFC featherweight crown against Englishman Lerone Murphy the following month in Las Vegas, but told Submission Radio on Saturday \u201cthere might be a spanner in the works.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it was put to Volkanovski about Sydney in February, he grinned coyly: \u201cFebruary in Sydney \u2026 is it February?\u201d<\/p>\n
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PERTH LATEST: UFC weigh-in drama as Aussie favourite forced out of Fight Night card<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018DON\u2019T TALK S***\u2019: Sonny Bill Williams\u2019 secret influence on Kiwi UFC beast chasing gold<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking with Fox Sports Australia at the weekend, UFC executive Dave Shaw refused to be drawn on how everything would play out \u2013 but didn\u2019t rule out the idea of a huge February card.<\/p>\n Shaw also confirmed there will be at least two UFC shows Down Under next year, but is remaining tight-lipped on whether one, or both, will be numbered events.<\/p>\n Regardless, it appears almost certain one of Australia\u2019s fighting favourites will be headlining a homesoil card early next year as the UFC kicks off its new American broadcasting deal. <\/p>\n Initially, there was talk of Whittaker topping a Fight Night-style event in Sydney next February, which would double as The Reaper\u2019s first appearance on home soil in six years \u2013 and since dropping the UFC middleweight crown in 2019.<\/p>\n Over the weekend however, whispers also emerged regarding Volkanovski defending gold in his hometown on that date \u2013 and potentially in a hyped rematch against Brazilian Diego Lopes.<\/p>\n If Volk were to headline, Whittaker would then become co-main.<\/p>\n Quizzed on the growing talk around Volk and Whittaker sharing a Sydney card over summer, Shaw said the new broadcasting deal meant that things were still being worked through regarding how 2026 kicks off.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, there are lots of discussions going on,\u201d he said regarding how things look for Australia. \u201cAnd while we don\u2019t have anything to announce, we are going to be back here at least twice next year.\u201d<\/p>\n RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JUNE 22: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand reacts after his victory against Ikram Aliskerov of Russia in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Kingdom Arena on June 22, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Pushed on the idea of an Aussie headlining in Sydney next February, he continued: \u201cWe\u2019ve got a really good history of coming to Australia in the summer, and the February timeframe makes a lot of sense for us.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you look at that, and who is available to compete \u2026 you put those two factors together and it all makes a lot of sense for us.<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t assign a probability but things are lining up nicely for that type of event<\/p>\n \u201cAnd whether that is a Fight Night or a pay-per-view, we haven\u2019t decided yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Certainly, Whittaker wants in.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure the UFC is coming back to Sydney in summer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd my hand is up to headline in February.<\/p>\n \u201cThat timeline definitely works for me.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife is due in November, then it\u2019s Christmas, so February is the perfect time while also giving me the chance to work on a few things.\u201d<\/p>\n And as for potentially sharing a blockbuster numbered event with Volk?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I know the new UFC broadcasting deal kicks over in January,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I don\u2019t think they\u2019re set on what will happen yet to start the year.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019d definitely like to share a card with Volk.\u201d<\/p>\n Then after a brief pause, Whittaker cackled: \u201cIt also means Volk can headline and I don\u2019t have to fight five rounds.\u201d<\/p>\n Pico predicts KO win, declares Volk next | 00:23<\/p>\n Whittaker added that his preference for the fight, as either headliner or co-main, would be Strickland, whose previous two Sydney visits have involved a wonderful array of press conference antics and backpage headlines.<\/p>\n Initially, the polarising Las Vegas native famously upset Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title in the Harbour City two years ago.<\/p>\n He then returned for a second title fight against the man who took the gold strap from him, South Africa\u2019s Dricus du Plessis, at the start of this year \u2013 losing the UFC 312 headliner via a lopsided decision.<\/p>\n Currently, Strickland is also still ranked at No.3 in the middleweight division, meaning a highlight reel win for Whittaker could put him within striking distance for one last title crack.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Sean would be a good name to fight,\u201d the Sydneysider said. \u201cAnd a fight a lot of people would be interested in that fight, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuivasa, meanwhile, is in Perth this week as a guest fighter and has spent time training at Maddalena\u2019s gym, Scrappy MMA.<\/p>\n Asked if his work was in preparation for a February return in Sydney, the Mt Druitt heavyweight said: \u201cYeah, that\u2019s definitely the goal\u201d.<\/p>\n But as for if he expects it to be a numbered card or Fight Night?<\/p>\n \u201cBro, I get punched in the head for living,\u201d Tuivasa laughed. \u201cI don\u2019t make those decisions.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019ll be ready for February.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve spent some time away — done some resting, had some family time and fixed some stuff with the businesses that I have.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ve got to want to do this.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a hard sport and if you\u2019re not all in, then you need to have a rest.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now, I\u2019ve got the itch back.<\/p>\n Tai Tuivasa is action against Jairzinho Rozenstruik in Perth in 2024.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI love fighting and I miss it again.\u201d<\/p>\n Once a genuine UFC heavyweight title contender, Tuivasa is currently on a run of five straight losses.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd some of those losses were against top guys,\u201d he shrugged. \u201cAnd some of the losses could\u2019ve gone my way but didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cLosing is s***.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd it got to the point where I said \u2018f***, I need a rest\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cGot really down on myself.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s all good.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had time out and I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n And as for the state of the heavyweight division?<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think any other heavyweights are doing s*** anyway,\u201d he grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd all the ones that are fighting are useless.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m definitely excited to come back.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m coming back to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Dana’s ‘FOTY’ | UFC 319 Press Conference | 21:06<\/p>\n Elsewhere, UFC Senior Vice President of Australia and New Zealand, Peter Kloczko, confirmed discussions are currently underway to give cities like Perth and Sydney a guaranteed annual spot on the UFC calendar.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is something we\u2019re still working through,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the idea of having that annualised event \u2013 coming to the same destination on a frequent basis \u2013 it allows people to plan ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in October last year, Premier Minns offered to host his city\u2019s impending UFC 312 showcase at an outdoor stadium capable of holding 50,000 if both Volkanovski and Whittaker were involved.<\/p>\n Eventually, neither fighter would take part \u2013 taking Australia\u2019s recent run of pay-per-view events without a local headliner to three straight.<\/p>\n The three cards in question have involved a mix of the same three international fighters — Strickland, Adesanya and DDP.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s Perth card also involves no Aussie headliner, although there is a stack of local talent on the undercard. <\/p>\n While the NSW premier knows the chances of UFC boss Dana White wanting an outdoor venue are unlikely, he has always still been willing to make the offer, stressing last October: \u201cWe can do it, we\u2019d love to do it and the UFC have also told us previously that you never say never\u201d.<\/p>\n Asked previously about Whittaker, Minns said: \u201cRob is an Australian legend.<\/p>\n \u201cAmazing athlete, wonderful role model and one of nature\u2019s gentlemen.\u201d<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s UFC card boasts a host of Australian fighters, including Jimmy Crute, Jack Jenkins, Jake Matthews, Tom Nolan and rising bantamweight prospect Colby Thicknesse.<\/p>\n Both Volkanovski and Whittaker are also in town for the event, with the latter set to make his debut with the UFC broadcasting panel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Alexander Volkanovski and Robert Whittaker could be sharing a blockbuster UFC showcase in Sydney this summer \u2013 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