Melbourne to Host Robert Whittaker-Israel Adesanya Title Unification Bout at UFC 243

The middleweight championship unification bout between Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya at UFC 243 officially has a location.

The promotion confirmed on Tuesday that UFC 243 will take place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 5. The venue can hold nearly 60,000 fans, and UFC officials are expecting a sellout. The card could surpass UFC 193, which drew more than 56,000 fans to Marvel Stadium (at the time known as Etihad Stadium) for a women’s bantamweight championship bout between Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm. Whittaker was on that card, besting Uriah Hall via unanimous decision in November 2015.

“So this show, it’s well overdue. And to have the opportunity to potentially fight in front of 60,000 people, I’m absolutely pumped,” Whittaker told The Daily Telegraph.

“This fight, it’s going to be a milestone moment, not only for the Australian fight game but combat sports, period. MMA doesn’t often get these sorts of crowds. So to be one of the few fighters ever who gets to perform in front of an audience so large, it’s awesome.”

Whittaker, who was born in New Zealand and is based in Sydney, has yet to make an official title defense as undisputed middleweight champion. He claimed the interim crown with a five-round verdict against Yoel Romero at UFC 213 and then best Romero again in a rematch at UFC 225. However, the second meeting was a non-title affair due to Romero missing weight.

Adesanya has kicked off his professional tenure with 17 consecutive triumphs — including six in the Octagon. “The Last Stylebender,” who was born in Nigeria but has New Zealand ties, captured the interim 185-pound belt with a decision victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236.