UFC announces first batch of fights for return to Australia

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Drew Beaupre | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 2:28 PM ET

(Zuffa LLC)

The UFC has finally dropped the first round of confirmed fights for the promotion’s return to Australia on September 27.

A staple of the UFC’s international calendar, Australia last hosted a UFC eventn August of last year with UFC 312, which took place at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena and saw UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis defeat Sean Strickland in a rematch of their previous title fight.

The UFC will be on the road for much of its remaining 2025 schedule, and the promotion is set to return to Perth on September 27 for a UFC Fight Night event. With just over two months to go until the UFC heads back to RAC Arena, the promotion has officially announced the card’s first four fights.

The first four bouts for #UFCPerth are official ✍️

Who else do you want to see make the walk in @WesternAustralia!?

️ Sep 28 | Register your interest at https://t.co/zdYvdmX8jR pic.twitter.com/3KdT7loYdA
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) July 21, 2025

Doo Ho Choi vs. Daniel Santos

The longest-tenured of the initial eight UFC fighters booked to fight in Perth, Doo Ho Choi fought to a draw with Kyle Nelson in 2023 following his mandatory military service in South Korea before he stopped Bill Algeo last July for his first win since 2016.

(Zuffa LLC

“The Korean Superboy” followed the Algeo victory with another stoppage-win against Nate Landwehr, and now Choi will try to match the longest winning streak of his UFC career in Perth when he meets Daniel Santos, who lost his promotional debut to Julio Arce but has rebounded with three-straight victories.

Navajo Stirling vs. Rodolfo Bellato

A perfect 7-0 in his professional MMA career and 2-0 in the UFC, New Zealand’s Navajo Stirling will square off with Rodolfo Bellato in a battle between Dana White’s Contender Series contract winners.

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Bellato debuted with a second-round finish against Ihor Potieira before he fought to a draw with Jimmy Crute, and the Brazilian will be eager to get back on track against Stirling after his most recent outing against Paul Craig ended in the first round due to an illegal upkick.

Loma Lookboonmee vs. Alexia Thainara

Riding the momentum of four-straight wins, Loma Lookboonmee is currently sitting at #14 in the UFC’s strawweight rankings.

Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images

The 29-year-old gets an interesting test in Perth against Alexia Thainara, who won a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year before she made her formal Octagon debut in March and submitted fan favorite Molly McCann in the second round.

Colby Thicknesse vs. Josias Musasa

After they both joined the UFC as undefeated talents, Colby Thicknesse and Josias Musasa will each try and secure their first wins in the promotion when they square off on September 27.

(Zuffa LLC)

Australia’s Thicknesse dropped a decision to fellow UFC debutant Aleksandre Topuria (brother of Ilia) at UFC 312, while Musasa missed weight ahead of his own debut in March before being submitted by Carlos Vera in a massive upset.