Sunday's UFC show in Melbourne looms as the biggest combat sports event yet for both Australia and New Zealand.
The Marvel Stadium event should attract over 50,000 spectators and could eclipse the UFC-record attendance of 56,214 set at the same venue in 2015.
- Robert Whittaker in career-best shape to fight Israel Adesanya
- Israel Adesanya compared to Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey by Dana White
Three of the four participants in the two main fights have links to New Zealand.
Auckland-born middleweight world champion Robert Whittaker will defend his title against interim champion Israel Adesanya, who lives in New Zealand, but was born in Nigeria.
In the co-main event, New Zealander Dan Hooker fights American Al Iaquinta in a bout between two world-ranked lightweights.
Hooker is the most established Kiwi in the UFC ranks, with 12 fights for that organisation over the last five years.
He fought in both the UFC Fight Night's in Auckland in 2014 and 2017, but New Zealand has yet to host one of that organisation's pay-for-view shows.
That could well change, if Adesanya dethrones Whittaker on Sunday, with UFC boss Dana White already suggesting as much.
But for the time being, Sunday's card will be the biggest UFC showcase yet for New Zealanders, four of whom are scattered across the show.
"This is easily the biggest card for New Zealand and for combat sports in New Zealand," Hooker told AAP.
"Dana White has already said there is a possibility of pay-for-view coming, should Israel win, and he can defend the belt in New Zealand.
"We [New Zealand] have achieved more than than I ever expected we possibly could.
"I never thought the mainstream would accept our sport, because they were so reluctant at the start of it.
"It all wouldn't have been possible without Israel."
Hooker said Adesanya had looked incredible in the gym, building on his last fight - the interim title-winning effort over Kelvin Gastelum in a five-round war back in April.
"Every fight, he learns something and especially coming off that Gastelum fight he's found a new level, which he's capable of," Hooker said.
Join us for live updates of UFC 243 from Sunday 11am.
AAP
