The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) franchise is coming to Australia particularly “The Ultimate Fighter” (TUF) brand as a new deal is reportedly in the works with television outfits Sky and FOX Sports. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans can now look forward to a probable TUF: Australia vs. New Zealand as early as 2015 or 2016.

“We are in the middle of concluding our broadcast agreements both FOX Sports Australia here and with Sky in New Zealand, and those are the two places where it makes a lot of sense for us to look at the next ‘TUF: Nations,’” UFC Managing Director for Operations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand Tom Wright stated via mmajunkie.com. “It probably wont happen in 2015, maybe 2016.”

UFC with TUF in the Oceania region is more than likely worth the wait considering the growing popularity of the MMA sport in the region, where UFC is planning “multiple events in the country in 2015” according to the same report. UFC is considered the fastest growing sport in the world owing to the growing list of international fighters taking up MMA.

UFC Fight Night 55 or Fight Night Sydney, the sixth installation of the UFC brand in Australia, drew 9,904 MMA fans with a live gate of AU$ 1.2 million in the event held at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. Luke Rockhold submitted Michael Bisping in the second round of the main event match.

There is one restriction that can affect the future of UFC in the region. The use of a cage or the Octagon in UFC is currently banned in Victoria and Western Australia because of a ruling in 2013 when fenced enclosures are not allowed in any fight sport. It is legal in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Queensland. However, there are moves to overrule the current law which has bans on the mentioned regions.

"I don't know of that many governments that turn away economic drivers. When people travel to UFC events they come for three or four days, they stay in hotels, they take cabs, they eat in restaurants and cafes...the economic drivers and the multiplier effect to these sorts of events is remarkable,” Wright said via the Sydney Morning Herald way back in 2013.

With the ban’s probable lifting anytime in the latter of 2014, Wright, the UFC and all Aussie and Kiwi fans can now celebrate of the endless fight possibilities in the region.

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