UFC’s Tom Wright Gives Australia’s Victorian Government Four to Eight Weeks to Overturn Cage Ban

Tom Wright, UFC Director of Operations in Australia, Canada and New Zealand, has given an ultimatum to the Victorian Government, saying that if they don’t overturn the cage ban in the next four to eight weeks the UFC will take its show elsewhere.

The goal is for the promotion to hold an event at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, which would bring in up to $50 million in revenue, but they have met resistance from the Napthine Government, who refuses to dump the state wide cage ban.

“If the state of Victoria doesn’t make a decision in the next four to eight weeks, we will have to move on,” Wright told News Ltd.

“It’s a global sport. We could be taking it to 50 other cities around the world. So if we can’t go to Melbourne, we will just have to say sorry and take it to one of the other places lining up.”

Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation in Victoria, John Eren, said that Labor would overturn the ban if they are victorious at the state election, which will be held in November, but that could be too late with a date already booked in Australia’s springtime at Etihad Stadium pending the decision of the Coalition Government.