The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return to Perth, with the announcement today that UFC 284 will be held at RAC Arena on 12 February 2023.
The event was originally scheduled to occur in June 2020 but was postponed because of COVID-19.
Tourism Minister Roger Cook joined Australia's UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski at RAC Arena for the new announcement.
About 13,000 spectators will watch UFC 284 at RAC Arena, with millions more following it on live broadcasts streamed to about 170 countries and through online media and social platforms.
The event is expected to attract thousands of visitors from interstate in a major economic boost that will fill hotel rooms and drive economic activity and jobs for local tourism and hospitality businesses.
UFC made its debut in Western Australia in February 2018 when UFC 221: Romero vs Rockhold drew a crowd of 12,437 spectators to RAC Arena.
The event injected $5.3 million of visitor expenditure into the WA economy, with more than 30 per cent of the tickets bought by people outside of WA.
The McGowan Government's 2017 election promise to make mixed martial events safer led to Perth becoming a potential city for staging a globally popular UFC event.
Upon coming into office, the State Government lifted a ban on combat sports being held in purpose-built enclosures such as the UFC's Octagon.
As stated by Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"Hosting the UFC at RAC Arena is expected to attract thousands of people to Perth, who will patronise our local accommodation and hospitality businesses and inject millions of dollars into our State's economy.
"It has been a five-year wait since the success of the 2018 event.
"This is another major event for Perth following other tourism success stories such as the Margaret River Pro, NRL State of Origin, ICON Festival of Football, Super Netball Grand Final and the Wallabies rugby union international.
"The range and breadth of our major events strategy is reaping rewards for local businesses while putting Perth and Western Australia on the global map of must-see destinations."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"The UFC is a big sport here in WA and I know that many Western Australians will be delighted to hear it is returning.
"I look forward to a big summer of sports, including the UFC, bringing fans and players together to be active and enjoying the best of the best."
