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Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium to host UFC 193: Lawler vs Condit

Mark Hunt - the Samoan Smashing Machine. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
Roar Guru
20th August, 2015
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Melbourne’s first ever UFC event has been booked for Etihad Stadium, and is set to be main evented by the first ever UFC championship bout on Australian soil as welterweight kingpin Robbie Lawler (26-10, 1NC) takes on top contender Carlos Condit (30-8).

UFC president Dana White believes that 70,000 people will flock to the Etihad for the event, which he claims will be the biggest UFC event to date.

“Finally the UFC is coming to Melbourne in what will be the biggest UFC event ever” said White.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Melbourne, title fights and stadium shows. The UFC is doing all three at the Etihad Stadium in front of 70,000 people.

“Australia has been an amazing market for the UFC and to thank the Aussies for all of their support we are bringing the superstar of the welterweight division, UFC World Champion Robbie Lawler. He will be facing the always-exciting “Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit”.

Many other exciting bouts have been added to the card, and are sure to spark the interest of the fans.

The co-main event is set to feature Sydney-based fan favourite Mark Hunt (10-10-1) who is set to face Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva (19-7, 1NC) in a rematch of their memorable 2013 clash in Brisbane.

Hunt and Bigfoot fought to a majority draw, in a bout that was considered the greatest heavyweight fight in the history of the sport.

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UFC superstar Michael Bisping (28-7) is booked to feature on the card, the Englishman will take on another Sydney-based fighter in Robert Whittaker (14-4) in a middleweight contest. Whittaker is coming off the biggest win of his career, a first-round knockout win over Brad Tavares (17-4).

Melbourne’s own Jake Matthews (9-1) will appear on the card, as he takes on Mexican veteran Akbarh Arreola (23-9-1) in a lightweight bout.

Australian fighter Kyle Noke (20-7-1) will be fighting at welterweight once again, and is set to take on submission specialist Peter Sobotta (15-4-1).

Light Heavyweight veteran and Australian Anthony Perosh (15-9) will make another UFC appearance as he set to face Gian Villante (13-5). The two were booked for a Fight Night event, however Perosh was forced out of the bout with an injury.

Australian Olympic Judoka Daniel Kelly (9-1), who fights out of Melbourne, will take on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Ricardo Abreu (5-1).

An all-Aussie welterweight clash between Richard Walsh (8-4) and Steve Kennedy (22-7) has also been booked. Kennedy will finally get a chance to prove what he can do with a full training camp.

The cage surround the MMA ring was banned for some time in Victoria, however the Victorian government finally lifting the ban has made way for one of the biggest UFC events of all time.

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More bouts are set to announced at later dates.

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