How you can welcome home Perth UFC champ Jack Della Maddalena
UFC fans will get the chance to welcome home newly minted welterweight world champion Jack Della Maddalena at a Perth event on Wednesday.
After creating history earlier this month as WA's first UFC champion, Della Maddalena will appear at Yagan Square amphitheatre at 5pm on Wednesday for a meet and greet with fans.
Joining him will be his Championship Belt, which the Perth fighter won unanimously against Belal Muhammad in Montreal fight two weeks ago.
Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said it was fitting a champion such as Jack received a champion's welcome.
'We're encouraging as many UFC fans as possible to head along to Yagan Square on Wednesday afternoon to give him the reception that he deserves.
'Jack's victory last weekend is game changing for mixed martial arts here in WA, making him our State's first ever UFC world champion.
'From Willetton to the world stage in Montreal, we are so proud of what Jack has achieved, particularly as he's fought back from a serious hand injury that kept him out of the octagon for some time last year.'
Della Maddalena now sits alongside Sydney's Alexander Volkanovski as a current UFC champion, with Volkanovski winning the featherweight title last month.
Fans eager to join in the fun at Yagan Square to welcome Jack home are encouraged to arrive early, with limited spots available.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
UFC champion pays visit to famous Perth BBQ joint
Current UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena has lent a hand to one of the hottest venues in Perth. The Perth born fighter popped in to Big Don's Smoked Meats on Friday to help the eatery before their anticipated service day — helping out with a slab of wagyu brisket Ranked ninth on the UFC men's pound-for-pound list, the reigning champ has been spending some time back in his home city since winning the title over Belal Muhammad in UFC 315 in Canada. On their social media, Big Don's revealed that Della Maddalena has been a long time fan of the establishment, showing that he waited in the long line back in 2020. The popular BBQ restaurant is known for its unique ordering style and only being open one day a week. Customers must place their order for a rotating tray on Tuesday — which sells out in minutes — and can collect it on Saturday, with a huge line typically forming outside the Bayswater joint. The menu changes every week with a BBQ meat pack that ranges with brisket, sausages, pork, ribs and more with additional add-on's available to order. The UFC champ paid a visit to the hottest BBQ restaurant in Perth. Credit: Instagram Jack Della Maddalena at Big Don's in 2020. Credit: Instagram Youtube chef Andy Cooks and Big Don's owner Donovan MacDonald. Credit: Facebook / Big Don's Smoked Meats The restaurant has hosted a number of named icons recently, with Chef and Youtuber Andy Cooks stopping by for a service day and filmed a video — calling the Perth joint 'The World's Best BBQ'. It's not the first time the BBQ joint has made headlines this week following the owners — Donovan MacDonald — outspoken battle with the Bayswater council.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Knockout blow for contentious bare-knuckle boxing event
A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19.
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Regulator knocks back Perth bare-knuckle boxing bout
Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission board has knocked back an application from the Bare Knuckle Boxing Championship to stage a bout at RAC Arena next month. In a release after the governing body, including commissioner Bob Kucera, met on Thursday to discuss the approval, a spokesperson said: 'After careful consideration, the board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria.' Sport Minister Rita Saffioti had been under increasing pressure from the opposition and groups including the Australian Medical Association to use her veto powers as minister to stop the event, which was slated to he held at RAC Arena on July 19. However, the government continued to back the event, with Saffioti on Thursday likening it to the UFC. 'This has been one where, of course, you consider all options, but I can't differentiate between this and UFC,' she said. 'For me to say no to this and then support UFC, I think people would rightly say that that was an inconsistent thinking.' Labor lifted the ban on cage fighting after coming to power in 2017, which paved the way for the UFC to host two championship events at RAC Arena, with a further two events planned in 2025 and 2026. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is co-owned by former UFC champion Conor McGregor, who is currently appealing an Irish court civil jury verdict in November that he had raped a woman in Dublin in 2018. The main event of the Perth fight, dubbed BKFC 79, was to be BKFC heavyweight world champion 'Big' Ben Rothwell taking on Australian powerlifting champion Alex 'Godly Strong' Simon in a super heavyweight non-title fight.
