Western Australian Government Bans Use of Cage for MMA Events, Effective March

According to a report from The West Australian daily newspaper, the state’s Department of Sport and Recreation commissioners met with promoters and gym owners to inform them of the change, which will be enforced beginning March 1. Of the seven major Australian states, including the Northern Territory, Western Australia becomes the second state to prohibit the use of the cage, the first being Victoria roughly five years ago. Western Australia is home to approximately 2.4 million people, making up roughly 10 percent of the country’s overall population.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has visited Australia four times in total, debuting Down Under in February 2010. The promotion has thrice visited Sydney, the state capital of New South Wales, last hosting UFC on FX 2 this past March. Most recently, the organization ventured to Queensland on Dec. 15 for UFC on FX 6, which took place at the Gold Coast Convention Centre and saw Ross Pearson earn a second-round technical knockout of fellow “Ultimate Fighter: Smashes” coach George Sotiropoulos in the main event.