UFC may be on the road to Oz in 2015.
A new report starts that the mixed martial arts organization has its eyes set on making a first-ever appearance on Australian soil next year, and hopes to do so in massive fashion.
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The tentative plan is for the event to be held at Etihad Stadium, a 50,000-seater in Melbourne, and marquee names like Ronda Rousey, Jon "Bones" Jones and Mark Hunt are all being considered as potential fighters, according to the nation's Daily Telegraph.
Hunt in particular would be a no-brainer of a participant, given that he's a New Zealander who has lived most of his life in Australia.
The event would likely be number 193 in the UFC series.
There are some impediments to UFC's plans, however. Although mixed martial arts fighting is legal in the Australian state of Victoria (of which Melbourne is the capital), cages and octagons are prohibited venues. The Labor party that's recently come to power has stated making cage fighting legal is one of its platforms.
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UFC spokesperson Isabelle Hodge was bullish that such legislation will come to pass.
"In anticipation of the ban being lifted, [UFC] has been working with and will continue to work with our business partners in Australia...in the planning of a major event in Melbourne," she told the Telegraph. "Looking forward to great news soon."
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