The Victorian Liberals have pledged a $40 million fund to bring the UFC back to Melbourne, with Opposition Leader Jess Wilson promising to chase the UFC, WWE and Zuffa Boxing if her party wins this month’s state election.
The Opposition announced on Sunday that it would set up a Major Events Attraction Fund to lure big sporting and entertainment events to Melbourne, and that the pledge includes working with TKO, the global company that also manages the WWE and Zuffa Boxing, ABC News reported.
Victorians go to the polls on Saturday 28 November.
‘The sporting capital of the world’
“This isn’t just about putting on a great show,” Wilson said. “It’s about filling our hotels, packing our pubs, supporting small businesses and creating more jobs for Victorians.”
“Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world, and under my government, we’re going to make sure it stays that way,” Wilson said, according to the ABC.
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Shadow Minister for Major Events and Tourism David Southwick said the UFC could be in Melbourne as early as next year if the Liberals form government.
“Our plan is to potentially bring all three codes [UFC, WWE and Zuffa boxing] to Melbourne over four years,” Southwick said, according to the ABC. “That would be the first time ever Australia would be able to host three different codes in Victoria.”
He said the events would bring close to $300 million into the Victorian economy.
“These have huge viewerships. We could have a billion homes all around the world in 60 different languages broadcasting from Melbourne being able to showcase Melbourne to the rest of the world,” he said.
Melbourne’s UFC history
Melbourne has staged some of the biggest nights in Australian MMA. Holly Holm’s knockout of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 at Docklands in November 2015 drew a crowd of more than 56,000, while Israel Adesanya beat Anderson Silva at UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena in February 2019 before knocking out Robert Whittaker for the middleweight title at UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium later that year.
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The UFC’s next Australian card is UFC Fight Night Sydney on Sunday 7 February, headlined by West Australian lightweight Quillan Salkilld against Benoit Saint-Denis, with Whittaker facing Bogdan Guskov in the co-main event.
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