UFC returns for another Perth showdown

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will return to Perth in August.

Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti on Thursday announced UFC 305 would be held at RAC Arena in Perth on August 18.

Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev headlines the UFC 284 event in Perth in February 2022.Credit: Getty Images

It comes after the wildly successful UFC 284 event in February 2022, where Sydney’s former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski took on Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at RAC Arena.

UFC 305 will be held the night after the Wallabies take on the Springboks at Optus Stadium with Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti describing the weekend as a “winter blockbuster of international sport”.

“It will be the only Pay-Per-View event in Australia in 2024 and importantly will be beamed live to more than 975 million households in more than 170 countries across the world,” she said.

Saffioti said UFC 284 injected $16 million into the WA economy.

“This is why we bring these major events to Perth. They activate our city, bringing in thousands of out-of-state visitors, generate millions for our local economy and showcase WA to the world.”

UFC 305 could be made all the more special if up-and-coming Perth fighters Steve Erceg and Jack Della Maddalena make the card.