Kiwi-born middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is likely to feature in the headline act when the UFC makes its way to Perth in February for its first event ever on Western Australian soil.
The promotion has confirmed that the state's capital will host UFC 221 on Sunday February 11, a timeframe which aligns well with the return of interim champion Whittaker.
The 26-year-old has been on ice since his second-round TKO victory over Yoel Romero in April after undergoing surgery to repair a medial knee injury.
Briton Michael Bisping is set to defend his middleweight title against Georges St-Pierre at UFC217 this weekend, with the winner already firmly pencilled in to advance to face Whittaker and unify the division's titles.
"Bobby Knuckles" will be Octagon-side in New York City for a first-hand glimpse at his potential opponent, and admits he'd love nothing better than a championship bout in front of a crowd of his compatriots.
"Fighting on home soil is always a dream come true and I’d love to unify the UFC middleweight title here in Australia," Whittaker said in a statement.
Currently amid an eight-fight win streak, the Auckland-born fighter has forged his name as one of the promotion's brightest young stars in 2017, and would likely enter a bout against either Bisping or St-Pierre as a firm favourite.
Australia still holds the record for the largest MMA event in history when over 56,000 fans packed out Melbourne's Etihad Stadium back in November 2-15, and UFC president Dana White is eager to continue that trend in Perth.
"I've always loved Australia. The fans and energy are fantastic but most importantly we seem to have some of the greatest fights there," says White.
"My job is to put on the best fights in the world and this is a place that never disappoints."
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