UFC agrees multi-year deal to host fight events in Sydney

The NSW Government has advised that it has secured a series of fight events to be staged in Sydney through a partnership with mixed martial arts brand the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The four-year deal with the global sport entertainment brand will see three pay-per-view UFC events to be staged in Sydney.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Minister for Sport Stephen Kamper joined UFC Vice President Australia and New Zealand Peter Kloczko to make the announcement, which will see the first event, UFC 293, take place on 10th September, with two more events to be held by 2027.

UFC 293 will mark the franchise’s return to Sydney for the first time since 2017 and will be the first global pay-per-view event to be held in the city since 2011.

UFC’s popularity has been soaring globally since Sydney hosted its first event, UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez, at Qudos Bank Arena (then Acer Arena) in 2010.

Since then, UFC has presented 16 live events in Australia, including sold-out shows at Qudos Bank Arena, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, Perth’s RAC Arena, Brisbane Entertainment Centre and at Gold Coast Convention Centre.

UFC 293 will be the second PPV event in Australia this year, following UFC 284 at RAC Arena on 12th February - an event which saw a record 68% of ticket buyers travel interstate or from overseas, injecting millions into the local economy.

Commenting on the deal, Kloczko advised “UFC events are the pinnacle of sports and entertainment. Nothing compares to the UFC live event experience, which we are thrilled to be bringing to Sydney over the next four years.

“UFC events have massive local appeal with fans in all parts of Australia, while remaining relevant to a global audience of millions.

Minister Kamper added “we couldn’t be more excited to be partnering with the UFC team to help bring these blockbuster events to life.

“Our state has demonstrated its capability to draw record-breaking crowds to NSW and now with some of the world’s best in mixed martial arts competing right here in Sydney, these events are guaranteed to attract thousands of UFC fans not only from across the country, but from across the globe.”

The venue for this year’s event is yet to be confirmed, with Qudos Bank Arena and CommBank Stadium reportedly under consideration.

Image: Preparing for UFC 284 at Perth's RAC Arena in February. Credit: RAC Arena.