Last Time In Sydney | UFC 30th Anniversary

UFC’s Last Trip To Sydney, Australia Was Six Years Ago. Take A Look Back At Everything That Happened At UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs Tybura.

By Gavin Porter, On Twitter @ItsGavinPorter • Sep. 6, 2023

This weekend, the Octagon is Down Under! UFC is back in Sydney, Australia for the first time in six years with an action-packed PPV event headlined by UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and hungry contender Sean Strickland.

The co-main event features one of Australia’s biggest stars in Tai Tuivasa. He faces longtime heavyweight stalwart Alexander Volkov in what is sure to be a banger. The rest of the card features Australian and New Zealand-based athletes from bottom to top.

How To Watch UFC 293: Adesanya vs Strickland

Let’s look back at UFC Fight Night: Wedrum vs Tybura as we prepare for an epic night of fights in “The Harbour City.”

Welcome To The Tai Tuivasa Show

Tai Tuivasa celebrates his knockout victory over Rashad Coulter in their heavyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Qudos Bank Arena on November 19, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

Tai Tuivasa introduced himself to fight fans six years ago in Sydney, when he made his debut versus Rashad Coulter.

“Bam Bam” gave fans a preview of what they were going to see out of him in the future when he showcased his pressure and powerful striking against Coulter. Late in the first round, he landed a heavy leg kick that put Coulter to the canvas, and as soon as he got up, Tuivasa launched a flying knee that put Coulter out cold.

WATCH: Tuivasa's UFC 293 Fight Week Interview

Tuivasa hit the shimmy in celebration and, just like that, Tai Tuivasa announced his presence in the UFC.

Alexander Volkanovski Shows Out In Sydney

Alexander Volkanovski of Australia celebrates his victory over Shane Young of New Zealand in their catchweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Qudos Bank Arena on November 19, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

You know him know as one of the top fighters on the planet, but six years ago, Alexander Volkanovski was still making a name for himself in the Octagon.

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At UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs Tybura he made his third UFC appearance opposite Shane Young. Volkanovski was dominant in the bout, getting the decision win by scores of 30-27, 30-26, 30-26.

Decision Time

A general view is seen as Daniel Kelly of Australia and Elias Theodorou of Canada fight in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night at Qudos Bank Arena on November 19, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs Tybura tied UFC 169, UFC Fight Night: Machida vs Mousasi, and UFC Fight Night: Silva vs Bisping for the most decisions at a single UFC event with 10.

The event also became the longest UFC ever, with 3:04:18 of fight time. The record has since been surpassed by UFC 251.