When it comes to Australian and New Zealand mixed martial arts, UFC 234 is likely the most important event to date.
Not only does this pay-per-view event take place in Melbourne, the card is headlined by Australian middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, and is backed-up by a co-headliner featuring New Zealand rising star Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker would be close to the top of any list of greatest current Australian sport stars.
He’s the first and only Australian UFC champion, with ‘The Reaper’ on a nine fight win streak.
His last fight was his first title defence; a second all-out war against Yoel Romero, the man Whittaker beat to win the belt.
This weekend, he is set to fight Kelvin Gastelum, who is coming off wins against Michael Bisping and Ronaldo Souza.
The two were opposing coaches on the past season of the Ultimate Fighter, and despite having history, still remain respectful of each other.
Whittaker is favoured to get the win in front of his home-crowd.
Israel Adesanya is one of, if not the, brightest prospect for the UFC.
It’s not just his perfect MMA record of 15-0 that makes ‘The Last Stylebender’ one to watch, it’s his manner of fighting and his talk outside the cage that has piqued the interest of fight fans around the world.
It just so happens that his fighting style is often compared to the man he’ll be facing this weekend.
Anderson Silva, once considered the best MMA fighter in the world, went on an incredible 16 fight win streak in the UFC from 2006 to 2012.
Since then however, his career has been tainted by failed drug tests and a less than impressive record of one win, four losses and a no-contest.
Despite Silva being 43 and having not fought for two years, fans are still interested in this fight; if not for their confidence in the one-time great, for the battle between the old-guard and the new, the clash of similar styles, and the door this fight opens for the winner.
UFC President Dana White, curiously said that should Silva win, he’ll get a shot at the middleweight title.
Which begs the question, if Adesanya wins, does that put him on the path of Whittaker, should the Aussie also win?
The card also features American up-and-comer Ricky Simon fighting Brazilian veteran Rani Yahya.
34 year old Yahya has amassed 36 professional MMA fights, winning 26 of those.
Simon, 26, has only lost one of his 15 pro fights so far, with Yahya his first ranked UFC opponent.
Opening the card is Australian youngster Jim Crute.
Crute made his UFC debut at Fight Night 142 in Adelaide, and was the only Aussie to win on that card.
The light heavyweight has a perfect 9-0 record and is just 22.
His opponent, Sam Alvey, is 10 years his senior and has fought in 45 professional fights.
Fellow undefeated Aussie Nadia Kassem (5-0) is also fighting on the day.
She takes on American submission-artist Montana De La Rosa (9-4) in the women’s flyweight division.
By Brandon Clark
