According to a source close to the matter, Western Australia Premier Roger Cook is anticipated to make an announcement this Thursday regarding the scheduling of the next UFC event in Perth.
Reportedly, the event in question is UFC 305, which is generating considerable buzz with a potential headliner featuring ANZAC native and former UFC champion Israel Adesanya facing off against the newly crowned middleweight champion, South African Dricus du Plessis.
The highly anticipated UFC 305 showdown is rumored to coincide strategically with the clash between the Australian Wallabies and the South African Springboks in Rugby Union, set to take place on August 17th at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia—the night before the UFC event.
Given the UFC's preference for holding their PPV cards on Sunday mornings in Australia to synchronise with their US audience, the scheduling alongside the Australia vs. South Africa match appears to be a well-calculated move.
Furthermore, speculations suggest that Perth natives Jack Della and Steven Erceg may also feature on the card, potentially adding significant local interest and boosting the prospects of the UFC's return to Western Australia.
Jack Della, currently recuperating from a recent injury sustained during his UFC 299 bout with Gilbert Burns, has emerged as a prominent figure in Western Australia's MMA scene. Despite his setback, Della remains rooted in his local community, residing in Leeming and continuing his training at Scrappy MMA in Willetton. His recent call-out of MMA standout Shavkat Rakhmonov has garnered attention, hinting at exciting future matchups.
Stephen Erceg has made waves in the MMA world with his recent announcement as the next UFC 125lb title contender against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301. Erceg's journey from training at Wilkes Martial Arts in Myaree to this career-defining opportunity highlights his dedication and talent. Should Erceg achieve success on May 5th, a potential hometown rematch with 'The Cannibal' could be on the horizon.
Irrespective of the fighters involved, the allure of the UFC brand in Perth is undeniable, when in all honestly, Perth could fill the RAC Arena with two homeless men fighting over a sandwich if the UFC sanctioned it.
One thing can be certain, All eyes will be glued to the official announcement on Thursday! You know, allegedly.. so I don’t get sued…
- Mitchell Tinley
