Close Menu
    What's Hot

    Fighters call for ONE Championship’s Australia debut

    June 13, 2025

    ‘Looking for a finish’: Rob Wilkinson preparing fireworks for PFL’s Australian debut

    June 10, 2025

    PFL set to make its debut in Australia

    May 13, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Fight News Australia
    • Home
    • News
    • Results
    • Interviews
    • Videos
    • Contact FNA
    Fight News Australia
    Home»News»A UFC pay-per-view in New Zealand? “It’s very possible”
    News

    A UFC pay-per-view in New Zealand? “It’s very possible”

    James AverisBy James AverisDecember 5, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter Email
    Follow Us
    Google News Facebook YouTube
    Credit UFC, Getty Images
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Reddit

    With the staggering success of New Zealand’s UFC athletes in 2018, the promotion is not ruling out a pay-per-view event in the country in the near future.

    Only two UFC events have taken place in New Zealand in the past with both being Fight Night events. Historically, the nature of the small New Zealand market has meant it has not been seen as a pay-per-view destination

    With the rise of the current crop of New Zealand talent however and current UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker’s strong ties to the country, a massive event in Auckland could make sense in the future.

    The UFC have not yet committed to all their pay-per-view dates for 2019 and David Shaw, UFC senior vice president international and content has stated that a pay-per-view event in the country could occur.

    “It’s very possible,” Shaw said following UFC Adelaide on Sunday.

    “The last couple of fights in Auckland have been great. The (James) Te Huna fight was a big night for us because it was the first time and obviously when Mark Hunt beat Derrick Lewis it felt like the roof was going to fall off at Spark Arena, so we’ll be back there at some point.”

    When the UFC first went to Auckland in 2014, Dan Hooker made his UFC debut and was the first fighter to compete in the UFC who trained locally.

    Daniel Hooker waves the New Zealand flag (Source: Newshub)

    Fast forward to 2018 and New Zealand based MMA fighters have gone 9-0 in the UFC this calendar year with Israel Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Luke Jumeau, Shane Young and Kai Kara-France all collecting wins. The bolstering of the Kiwi contingent makes the likelihood of a show in Auckland all the more possible.

    (Credit: Jasmin Frank, Fight News Australia)

    A big main event would be required should the UFC bring a PPV event to the country. Should Whittaker and Adesanya both pick up wins at UFC 234 in Melbourne in February, then a decision will be made as to where they fight.

    “As the beginning part of the year unravels and we see what actually happens in Melbourne then I think that’s going to lead us to make some decisions for the second part of the year,” Shaw continued.

    With Whittaker having been born in Auckland and Adesanya having lived there for most of his life, Auckland would certainly have to be on the list of destinations for the fight to take place.

    UFC 234 Melbourne tickets on sale to public December 7

    Dan Hooker (Fighter) Featured Article Israel Adesanya (Fighter) Kaiwhare Kara France (Fighter) UFC (Promotion)

    Related Posts

    June 13, 2025

    Fighters call for ONE Championship’s Australia debut

    June 10, 2025

    ‘Looking for a finish’: Rob Wilkinson preparing fireworks for PFL’s Australian debut

    May 13, 2025

    PFL set to make its debut in Australia

    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Quick News

    Danial Williams gets back into the win column, beats Banma Duoji at ONE Fight Night 25

    October 5, 2024

    ‘I’ll get that stoppage’: Danial Williams set for ‘action-packed’ brawl at ONE Fight Night 25

    September 28, 2024

    Isaac Thomson defeats Israel Delgado via decision at LFA 192

    September 18, 2024

    Sara Collins submits Leah McCourt in Bellator main event; Luciano secures win

    September 16, 2024

    John Martin Fraser Alfred Stoddart in Eternal 88 main event

    September 15, 2024
    Latest News

    Fighters call for ONE Championship’s Australia debut

    June 13, 2025

    ‘Looking for a finish’: Rob Wilkinson preparing fireworks for PFL’s Australian debut

    June 10, 2025

    PFL set to make its debut in Australia

    May 13, 2025

    ‘Coming to win’: Martin Nguyen plans to knock Russian boogeyman ‘out cold’

    February 11, 2025
    Latest Results

    Danial Williams gets back into the win column, beats Banma Duoji at ONE Fight Night 25

    October 5, 2024

    Isaac Thomson defeats Israel Delgado via decision at LFA 192

    September 18, 2024

    Sara Collins submits Leah McCourt in Bellator main event; Luciano secures win

    September 16, 2024

    John Martin Fraser Alfred Stoddart in Eternal 88 main event

    September 15, 2024
    Follow FNA
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Fight News Australia
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    • Home
    • Contact FNA
    • Terms of Use / Privacy Policy
    © 2025 Fight News Australia

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.