The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with the Western Australian Government that will see the return of UFC events to Perth in the coming years. The partnership kicks off with UFC 305 set to take place at RAC Arena on Sunday, August 18. This event will mark the third UFC Pay-Per-View event to be held in Perth, following the incredibly successful UFC221: Romero vs. Rockhold in 2018, and the record-breaking UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski in 2023.
UFC CEO Dana White expressed his excitement about returning to Perth, stating, “Perth, I am so excited to be coming back! After a record-breaking event in 2023, I can’t wait to bring another massive pay-per-view to Western Australia. Perth is a world-class city with some of the most passionate fight fans I’ve ever seen — UFC 305 is going to be incredible!”
The UFC has not only been a draw for fans but has also had a significant economic impact on the region. The last event, UFC 284, broke records at RAC Arena for revenue and sporting event attendance. It also set the national arena record for the highest-grossing ticket sales of any event, which was later surpassed by another UFC event at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena. UFC 284 brought an estimated $42.8 million in total economic and flow-on benefits, with over 9,000 international or interstate visitors attending the event.
Support for UFC’s return to Perth was evident as key figures in the mixed martial arts world joined the announcement at Scrappy MMA in Willetton. Notable personalities included No.1 UFC featherweight and former champion, Alex Volkanovski, No.5 UFC welterweight and Perth’s own, Jack Della Maddalena, and No.10 UFC flyweight, Steve Erceg, all from Western Australia. The event was also attended by Peter Kloczko, vice president of Australia and New Zealand for UFC, as well as the Hon. Roger Cook MLA, premier of Western Australia, and the Hon. Rita Saffioti MLA, deputy premier and minister for tourism.
Premier Roger Cook highlighted the significance of UFC’s return to Perth, stating, “The return of UFC to Perth in 2024 is a major coup for Western Australia, following the roaring success of UFC 284 that injected millions into our economy last year.” He emphasized the draw of UFC events and the expected influx of out-of-state visitors to Perth for the blockbuster event. Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister, Rita Saffioti, shared her enthusiasm for hosting UFC at RAC Arena, predicting another major success for the tourism and hospitality industry.
Peter Kloczko, UFC vice president for Australia and New Zealand, expressed his excitement for the upcoming UFC events in Perth, highlighting the growing popularity of UFC in the region. He thanked the WA Government and Tourism Western Australia for their support in making UFC 305 possible. Fighter matchups for UFC 305 will be announced at a later date, adding to the anticipation surrounding the event.
Since 2010, UFC has hosted 17 live events in Australia, with sold-out shows in various major cities. These events have collectively drawn over 325,000 fans in attendance and garnered millions of views worldwide through PPV and broadcast television. The economic impact of these events has been significant, with a cumulative gross gate of over $64 million and hundreds of millions more in economic impact across the host cities.
The partnership between UFC and Tourism WA follows the successful collaboration that brought WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth to the region. Both UFC and WWE, leading sports and entertainment brands, are under the TKO Group Holdings umbrella, showcasing the continued growth and influence of these iconic organizations in the sports industry.
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