As the UFC returns to Perth, a number of fighters will be hoping to etch their name in the history of Australian MMA.
The country down under has regularly punched above its weight class, producing some of the most impressive UFC Champions in history.
UFC Perth will give numerous up-and-coming fighters the chance to impress, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Australian champions of the past and present.
Here are the five top Australian MMA fighters of all time, ranked.
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5. Jake Matthews
UFC veteran Jake Matthews is doing Australia proud as he continues into his 11th year in the UFC.
The Welterweight star first debuted in the promotion back in 2014 as a young prospect, and now at 31, is a seasoned veteran who remains a fixture of the division.
With 22 fights to his name, he is one of the most experienced fighters in the UFC, proving to be a gatekeeper for talented fighters to try and make the step up to the higher ranks.
While seven losses have kept him away from title contention, Matthews has proven himself to be an impressive fighter who Aussie fans can get behind.
4. Tai Tuivasa
While his recent record may not be the best, Tai Tuivasa has forged a legacy that makes him one of Australia’s most beloved fighters.
The Heavyweight powerhouse made a name for himself in the UFC with a series of impressive knockout victories, going five in a row with KO finishes against a series of impressive opponents, including Derrick Lewis.
His crowd-pleasing fighting style and fantastic reel of knockout wins have ingratiated “Bam Bam” to the fans, making him a must-see fighter whenever Tuivasa steps into the cage.
3. Jack Della Maddalena
Few have risen so quickly and impressively to stardom as Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena has in the UFC.
The Perth native earned his UFC contract via Dana White’s Contender Series, debuting in 2022 before going on a tear that helped him rise to the top of the Welterweight division with an impressive series of knockouts.
Just eight fights into his UFC career, all of which saw him taste victory, JDM shocked the world by beating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC 315 to become the UFC Welterweight champion, just three years after debuting in the company.
While he still has a lot to prove as he prepares to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 322, Della Maddalena comfortably slots in at the third-greatest Australian fighter in MMA history.
2. Robert Whittaker
Respect must be put on “The Reaper’s” name for blazing a trail for his fellow Aussies by becoming the first Australian fighter to win a world championship in the UFC.
The Kiwi-born Robert Whittaker, with Australian and Maori heritage, moved to Australia shortly after his birth and grew up engrossed in the culture of his new home country.
This is where he first enrolled in karate school, which began Whittaker’s love of martial arts and began his journey towards a career in MMA.
He found success in Australia before signing with the UFC in 2012 as part of The Ultimate Fighter TV series, which he won to make a name for himself in the promotion immediately.
Despite a mixed start to his UFC career, Whittaker went on a nine-fight unbeaten streak to become the UFC Middleweight champion, breaking records as the first Australian to hold gold.
While he lost it on his first title defense and has struggled to return to the top of the rankings since, there is no doubting that Whittaker is one of the all-time great Australians in MMA history.
1. Alexander Volkanovski
While Whittaker made history, Alexander Volkanovski took the ball and cemented himself as Australia’s greatest ever fighter.
The Featherweight legend is a fan-favorite in the UFC, considered one of the all-time greats at 145 lbs, owing to his fantastic performances that led him to two reigns as Featherweight champion.
When he debuted in the UFC with a second-round TKO over Yusuke Kasuya back in 2016, Volkanovski took the UFC by storm with his fantastic wrestling and striking skills, as well as the personable nature that fans appreciate.
Volkanovski went on a 12-fight winning streak, which included beating another Featherweight great in Jose Aldo and a trilogy of victories over Max Holloway, to become the UFC Featherweight champion in 2020.
While he lost the belt to Islam Makhachev, his victory over Diego Lopes saw “The Great” win his second title belt, rolling back the years as he had to adapt his game to placate his aging body.
Nobody really knows how long Volkanovski has left, so fans have to enjoy him as much as they can before the greatest Australian MMA fighter of all time eventually hangs up his gloves for good.