UFC executive Dave Shaw has expressed no concern regarding the reportedly low ticket sales for the upcoming UFC Perth event.
Shaw, stepping in for Dana White who did not travel to Australia, spoke at Friday`s pre-fight press conference.
During the conference, Shaw was questioned about reports suggesting sluggish ticket sales for the event, which features a main event light heavyweight clash between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes.
Speculation suggests that RAC Arena might only be “half full” when UFC Perth commences on Sunday morning local time.
Shaw Defends UFC`s Vision for Australia
“Not at all,” Shaw firmly stated, proceeding to highlight the organization`s past triumphs in Australia.
“From the very beginning, our approach in Australia has been a long-term one,” Shaw explained. He cited UFC`s history in the country, starting with UFC 110 in 2010, the opening of their Sydney office in 2014, and hosting the largest event in UFC history with Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm in Melbourne in 2015. He also noted the overturning of the octagon ban in 2017 and the “Fight of the Year” featuring Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev in 2023, reaffirming their commitment to Australia for the long haul.
He emphasized Australia`s passion for sports, echoing Dana White`s vision for MMA to become the world`s biggest sport. Shaw sees Australia as a premier market, predicting MMA will grow significantly in the country.
Shaw further described UFC Perth as a “pretty special card,” highlighting the unprecedented number of regional, Australian, and Kiwi athletes competing, including a debut female fighter from New Zealand and an Adelaide-based athlete. He stressed the importance of nurturing future talent, confidently stating that “someone from this card is going to be the next Jack Della Maddalena,” an investment the UFC is committed to.
Despite persistent questioning, Shaw unequivocally maintained: “We do not see an issue for this event.”
Complete UFC Perth Fight Card
- Carlos Ulberg vs Dominick Reyes
- Jimmy Crute vs Ivan Erslan
- Jack Jenkins vs Ramon Taveras
- Jake Matthews vs Neil Magny
- Justin Tafa vs Louie Sutherland
- Tom Nolan vs Charlie Campbell
- Navajo Stirling vs Rodolfo Bellato
- Cameron Rowston vs Andre Petroski
- Jamie Mullarkey vs Rolando Bedoya
- Colby Thicknesse vs Josias Musasa
- Michelle Montague vs Luana Carolina
- Brando Pericic vs Elisha Ellison
- Loma Lookboonmee vs Alexia Thainara
Neville Whittle