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The greatest Aussie UFC achievements of all-time, named and ranked ahead of UFC 293

The greatest Aussie UFC achievements of all-time, named and ranked ahead of UFC 293

We take a look at the best that Aussies have had to offer ahead of UFC Sydney.

UFC 293 is set to be one of the biggest MMA events to take place on Australian soil.

Ahead of what will possibly be the best Aussie achievement in the history of the UFC, we have named some the greatest moments to come from the Land Down Under.

10. Mark Hunt slogs it out with Brock Lesnar at UFC 200

The big heavyweight fighting out of Sydney, Australia co-headlined one of the biggest cards in UFC history.

While the matchup ended in controversial terms, it was great to see an Aussie slog it out with perhaps one the biggest box-office draws in combat sports history.

9. Tai Tuivasa travels from Western Sydney to Paris to take on Ciryl Gane in his own backyard


Bam Bam’ flew to Ciryl Gane’s hometown with the love and support of Western Sydney behind him.

While he was unsuccessful in his venture, Tuivasa showed just how tough he is by eating some heavy shots from Gane, while miraculously staying on his feet. Warrior.

8. Whittaker wins the TUF Australia vs UK

The Ultimate Fighter’s second season pitted squads from Australia and the UK against each other in a season cleverly coined ‘The Smashes’. One standout clearly came out of that season by the name of Robert Whittaker who won the welterweight bracket and let’s just say he’s gone on to do some pretty impressive things since.

7. ‘The Great’ completes a trilogy sweep over Max Holloway

Px Images / Alamy

Alexander Volkanovski cemented his place as the king of the featherweight division with his third win of three fights against the American fan favourite.

While some queried the results of the second fight, Volk made sure there were no questions to be had of the third with a dominant performance.

145-pound GOAT? Most definitely.

6. Tai Tuivasa unveils the ‘shoey’ on the main stage

Not your typical MMA achievement, but it takes a huge personality to take a staple of Australian culture and make it beloved on the world stage.

The big man unveiled the celebration at UFC 221 and it has become synonymous with the Tuivasa name ever since.

Seeing fully-grown men pour beers into their shoes at the actual UFC events is absolutely unreal.

Again, you’ve got to love Bam Bam.

5. Volk claims featherweight gold

Max Holloway was quite dominant in his reign as featherweight champion - that was until a certain bloke from Wollongong stood across from him the the cage doors slammed shut.

Volkanovski claimed featherweight gold at UFC 245 in an unanimous decision victory, and has never looked back since.

4. Elvis Sinosic becomes first Aussie to debut in UFC and upsets Jeremy Horn

You never forget the first.

The UFC ran for almost eight years before the first Aussie even stepped foot inside the octagon – a bloke by the name of Elvis Sinosic.

Not only did he make his debut at UFC 30, but he produced an upset win over MMA legend Jeremy Horn with a submission win in the first round.

The win earned him a title shot against Tito Ortiz at UFC 32 - the first Aussie to challenge for a title in the promotion.

Sinosic well and truly opened up the door for fighters from the Southern Hemisphere to make their name overseas.

3. Whittaker vs Adesanya headlines UFC 243 in front of 57,000 fans


UFC Middleweight Championship. Marvel Stadium. 57,000 fans. Australia vs New Zealand.

It doesn’t get much bigger than that for a homeboy to headline one of the biggest events in UFC history.

Thousands upon thousands packed out Marvel Stadium to see Robert Whittaker take on Israel Adesanya in one of the most anticipated fights in MMA history.

A true trans-Tasman clash.

Unfortunately for Whittaker, he ended up on the losing end this time, but he showed that Aussies have the ability to be box office draws and carry a card.

2. Whittaker becomes first champion from Down Under

And if you need any further indication of the impact Robert Whittaker has had for Australia in the UFC then look no further.

The first ever UFC champion from Down Under was crowded when Whittaker claimed the interim middleweight championship against Yoel Romero at UFC 213.

The Australian was later promoted to undisputed champion, securing his name in Australian mixed martial arts folklore.

The man fighting out of Sydney, Australia has put the country on his back and certified his name as a legend of the game.

1. Alexander Volkanovski claims number one pound-for-pound

The undisputed best in the entire company. In fact, technically the entire world... it doesn’t get any better than that, right?

Alexander Volaknovski has gone under the radar in the eyes of some across the pond, but not to Australians who have followed him on his rise to the top.

The king of the featherweight division is undefeated since joining the UFC, absolutely clearing out his weight class with relative ease – dismantling former champions as well as up-and-comers.

Featured Image Credit: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy/Twitter/UFCANZ

Topics: UFC, MMA, Alexander Volkanoski, Robert Whittaker, Australia