Melbourne will play host to the UFC in November after the Victorian Government lifted a ban on the controversial cage used in the sport, known as the “octagon”.
The tournament, UFC 193, can now take place in Melbourne, following an announcement from Victorian Sports Minister John Eren that the ban would be lifted.
Mr Eren, joined by UFC Executive Vice-President and General Manager, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, Tom Wright, at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, said “Let’s be clear: Mixed Martial Arts is already legal in Victoria. More than 70 bouts were held last year. We’re making the sport safer so we can bring UFC to our state.”
Mr Wright added in a press release, “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.”
The Victorian state government promised to remove the ban on the cage in the 2014 state election. The lifting of the restriction leaves Western Australia as the only state where the cage is still prohibited.
The UFC has hosted six events in Australia since 2010. The Melbourne tournament will be held on November 15 at Etihad Stadium.
