The newly appointed Victorian Labor government has kept their preelection promise to scrap the long standing cage ban in the country’s second most populated state.
The announcement, which was made this morning by the minister for sport, Mr John Eren, has paved the way for the Ultimate Fighting Championship to green light their long rumored UFC 193 pay-per-view event on November 15.
“This is a major milestone for mixed martial arts in Victoria, which will allow the sport to flourish while at the same time better protecting its competing athletes,” said Tom Wright, UFC Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
UFC officials have promised a star-studded Melbourne lineup if the cage ban was overturned in the state, while also expecting to pack 50,000 people into the city’s Etihad Stadium.
No fight announcements for UFC 193 were made today by the promotion.
Since 2010, the UFC has hosted six live events in Australia in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The UFC will host its seventh Australian event, UFC Fight Night: Miocic vs Hunt, at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on May 10.
The landmark decision also allows local promotions Hex Fight Series and Australian Fighting Championship to utilise the cage instead of hosting matches in a boxing ring. Hex FS have already confirmed that their March 14 event at the Melbourne Pavillion will feature the fenced enclosure.
