Tickets will go on sale this Friday (December 15) for the highly anticipated middleweight championship bout between Australia’s first ever UFC title holder Robert Whittaker and American champion Luke Rockhold. Whittaker is the current UFC middleweight champion and Rockhold formerly held the title from December 2015 to June 2016. Both are currently in Perth to promote the event and take in some of Perth’s iconic locations.
“The reaction earlier this year to Perth being announced as the host city for UFC 221 was overwhelming. I’m pleased to say now the card has been announced we are anticipating a fantastic battle between two of the sports’ best-known competitors.” Western Australian Minister for Tourism Paul Papalia commented.

The Minister went on to explain that the State Government, through Tourism Western Australia, secured next year’s UFC event for Perth after the McGowan Government, in June, lifted a ban on combat sports such as mixed martial arts being held in purpose-built, fenced-in enclosures such as the UFC’s Octagon.
“Travel packages for the bout have been on sale since December 1 and our projections show up to 8,000 people will come to Perth from interstate and overseas for the event. This is a great way to bring people to our city and show off Perth’s transformation to competitors, officials and fans alike.” Minister Papalia commented.
The Minister also said that the event is expected to attract thousands of fans to WA and inject $7.25 million into the economy. It will be watched by a global pay-per-view audience of more than 15 million, with the broadcast available in all of Tourism WA’s markets. The bout is an exclusive for Perth. UFC 221 will be the fourth pay-per-view event ever staged in Australia. Of the 13 top UFC events held each year, only two are typically staged outside of North America.