Ahead of one of the biggest events in Australian UFC history at UFC 290 in Las Vegas this weekend, Fox Sports MMA reporter Nick Walshaw counts down the biggest and best moments in MMA history involving the nation.

Greatest moment ever in Australian UFC history?

It’s a tough one, right?

Like trying to single out only one Johnny Cash song. Or pick your favourite kid.

Watch UFC 290: Volkanovski v Rodríguez plus the return of Robert Whittaker as he takes on Dricus Du Plessis on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. Sunday July 9 from 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

Understanding that in the 20 years since Elvis Sinosic made our first Octagon walk at UFC 30 – and, wonderfully, as ‘The King of Rock ‘n’ Rumble’ — this nation’s cage fighting story has grown into a chaotic swirl of biff, belts, shocks, shoeys, hope, heart, even that Holly Holm headkick heard around the world.

So picking just 50, in order … it’s no easy feat.

Especially when the bloody things keep piling up.

Take this Sunday for example, when no less than five of the nation’s toughest Australians – and led by arguably the toughest anywhere on earth, Alexander Volkanovski – throw down at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.

Apart from having Volk again defending his title, this time against Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez, we also have Rob Whittaker continuing his journey back to Israel Adesanya, Jack Della rising, Jimmy Crute seeking the same and Shannon Ross, who fought his way into the UFC with a ruptured appendix, now chasing that first win.

Only a few years ago, the idea of Australia dominating this biggest of International Fight Week events would’ve seemed impossible. Even absurd.

No longer.

With the only question now being exactly where this card will sit on our ‘50 Greatest UFC moments’ come late Sunday afternoon.

In this first of a two-part series, Fox Sports Australia looks at our best UFC moments from 50 to 26 …

50. Colby Covington’s boomerang assault

There’s no doubting Colby Covington boasts a knack for pissing people off. Just ask Jorge Masvidal. Or Democrats. Still, when it comes to taking cracks at the outspoken American, nothing beats Brazilian Fabricio Werdum’s boomerang assault in 2017. Having arrived Down Under to headline a UFC Sydney, Werdum ran into the outspoken American, who was himself here as a guest fighter, on George Street and immediately took him to task over recent comments made about Brazil. Unsurprisingly, Chaos bit back. With the pair then jawing, pointing and Werdum eventually striking Covington with, of all things, a souvenir boomerang he’d bought only minutes before. After the pair were separated and police called, Covington took to Instagram, saying Werdum was “a f***ing clown” and Brazilians a “bunch of filthy animals”.

Behind the scenes, UFC officials also went into a mad scramble to keep Werdum, who was charged, in his main event against Marcin Tybura, which thankfully still went ahead days later.

49. Steve Erceg chases Brock Lesnar

Speaking only days out from his UFC debut last month, Steve Erceg declared himself capable of winning a world title within just three fights – or the same timeframe as WWE superstar Brock Lesnar. Then, well, the Perth flyweight went and got started in every sense. Despite being a $3.50 underdog at UFC 289, Erceg scored a huge boilover against division No.10 David Dvorak. The win not only ranks among Australia’s best Octagon debuts, or biggest upsets, but now stands an undeniable case of watch this space.

48 Frank Mir blames kangaroo meat for drug positive

Seven years ago, American heavyweight Frank Mir arrived Down Under, fought Mark Hunt, got iced, went home, popped for drugs, then blamed the whole thing on, um, dodgy kangaroo meat. Having never previously tested positive, Mir argued it was common practice for people to “beef up” animals that would later be sold for food, including Skippy. USADA, however, disagreed and suspended the former champ for two years.

47. Iron Man phones Bobby Knuckles

Rob Whittaker was seated at a Las Vegas blackjack table in 2017, having just dusted Cuban monster Yoel Romero at UFC 213, when his phone pinged. With Iron Man, aka Robert Downey Jnr, having been so impressed he quickly tracked down the Aussie’s number to congratulate him on the gutsy win. Which six years ago, was huge. But now? So popular are Australia’s fighters, Alexander Volkanovski considers Mark Zuckerberg a mate, sees Mel Gibson sat cageside at fights and has also been praised by The Rock, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even Logan Paul. Elsewhere, Sydney featherweight Josh Culibao has trained Hollywood’s Idris Elba, while Matt Damon and Chris Hemsworth both sat front row for UFC 234 in Melbourne.

46. Caged Combat 1: Australian Ultimate Fighting

Recognised as Australia’s first ever cage fight event, this one night tournament took place at the Sydney Convention Centre in 1997 and saw Aussie pioneer Chris Haseman go all the way to the final. Despite eventually being bested by Brazil’s Mario Sperry, ‘The Hammer’ is fondly remembered as a Aussie UFC pioneer who earned his own Octagon walk at UFC 38 — a seven-fight card that incredibly included two Aussies, with countryman Elvis Sinosic also making what was his fourth appearance with the promotion.

45. Megan Anderson switches from Invicta

For a time Australia’s baddest woman, the incredible rise of Megan Anderson involved overcoming childhood bullying, anxiety issues, even a suicide attempt before eventually becoming Invicta featherweight champ and, soon after, a hyped UFC signing. In her six walks to the Octagon, the now ESPN analyst won half, fought for a world title and helped forge what is a continuing path for young Aussie women. Special mention also to Jessica-Rose Clark, that laidback Cairns native who fought nine times in the UFC and has long been a genuine favourite.

44. Dad’s Army General wins four straight

After representing Australia at four Olympics in judo, Dan Kelly made the incredible decision, aged 35, to have a big crack at Mixed Martial Arts. And guess what? The bloke punched, grappled, shocked his way right into the UFC. Famed for his uninspiring ‘dad bod’, the Melburnian became an overnight cult sensation to a legion of followers – dubbed Dad’s Army — thanks to a four-fight winning streak that included victories over Antonio Carlos Junior, Chris Camozzi, even former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Champion.

43. Windang church sells cheap

Way back when blue collar folk could still grab themselves a Sydney property, a local bouncer named Joe Lopez bought a church, removed some pews, and created what is now one of the greatest fight factories on the planet. Apart from eventually becoming home to Alexander Volkanovski, Windang’s Freestyle Fighting Gym has also given local fighters access to some of the best minds in the business – including Lopez, Eugene Bareman, Craig Jones, Carl Van Roon, Mike Angove and US wrasslin’ specialist Frank Hickman.

42. Hooligan runs riot with busted jaw

Central Coast tradie Jamie Mullarkey earned himself a slice of immortality when, on debut at UFC 243, he produced one of the nation’s great scraps with a broken jaw. In an absolute barnburner with Brad Riddell, bones broke, legs wobbled and the Kiwi eventually win by decision. Despite losing the fight, Hooligan earned his first of what his since been three $50,000 UFC bonuses. Special mention also to his coach, retired English lightweight Ross Pearson – a fella who not only had some great fights Down Under but married Aussie Octagon girl Kristie McKeon, relocated to the Coast and opened a gym now mentoring several young stars.

Watch UFC 290: Volkanovski v Rodríguez plus the return of Robert Whittaker as he takes on Dricus Du Plessis on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. Sunday July 9 from 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

41. Submission Radio surpasses 200,000 subscribers

Of all the amazing underdog stories in Australia’s UFC history – and there are plenty – a special place has to be made for a pair of Melbourne mates and their microphones. Eight years ago, Kacper Rosolowski and Denis Shkuratov wanted nothing but to share their love of MMA with anyone else who wanted in. Ever since, the pair have grown their Submission Radio podcast into one of the fight game’s most beloved listens. Champion fellas, too. Roll on 300K.

40. Croc Hunter’s bodyguard & Ebersole Hairrow

Almost 15 years after making their UFC debuts within weeks of each other, Kyle Noke and Brian Ebersole remain two of Australia’s most beloved fight pioneers. Earning his start on The Ultimate Fighter: 11, Noke arrived into the UFC with the wonderful backstory that was living, working and training alongside the late, great Steve Irwin. Adopted Aussie Ebersole, meanwhile, would make his own Octagon debut soon after at UFC 127 in Sydney. Apart from being 31, or having already fought a staggering 52 times professionally, the American-born fighter also strolled to the Octagon with his chest hair shaved into an arrow pointing at his head. Then, the man with the ‘Hairrow’ went and upset Chris Lytle. Together, these two pioneers would make 20 UFC walks between them. Legends.

39. Mighty Mouse becomes first UFC flyweight king … sort of

While now ranked among the greatest UFC fighters who ever lived, Demetrious Johnson’s flyweight reign almost never got off the ground thanks to an Aussie official who added three scorecards together and came up with a pineapple. Back in 2012, the world’s best flyweights descended on Sydney for an event to determine the new division’s No.1. However in the bout between Johnson and Ian McCall, which was a cracker, Mighty Mouse was announced the winner, only for an official to later realise the scorecards had been added incorrectly. Instead of a Johnson win, it should have been a draw – with the fighters then going to a deciding fourth round. But given the official missed his mark by around, oh, 90 minutes, UFC boss Dana White was forced to square the pair off again three months later Stateside, with DJ this time taking a decision win.

38. Rise of Eternal MMA

As Australia’s premier fight company, Eternal is quickly proving to be the launchpad for so many fighters including breakout featherweight Jack Jenkins and rising women’s flyweight star Casey ‘King’ O’Neill. In Jenkins, you have a fella who breaks legs with all the regularity of a mafia tough. In his past seven fights, the former Melbourne barman has snapped four — and almost five given he battered American rival Don Shainis’s leg so viciously at UFC 284 in February, the poor bloke was banned from flying out of Perth for eight days. Only a few weeks ago too, Jenkins decisioned Jamall Emmers to continue his rise, while O’Neill continues her own push to become the nation’s first female champ at UFC 293 in Sydney.

37. James Te Huna goes all ‘Men In Black’

A fella would have to walk a long way to find anyone tougher than Aussie light heavyweight James Te Huna — who beat America’s Joey Beltran with a broken hand and foot, stopped Igor Pokrajac with a broken arm and once had a dislocated shoulder slammed back into place by his cornerman between rounds. But our most enduring image of the fighter who also ranks among the Octagon’s nicest athletes would have to be when he and his team walked into Wembley Arena all suits, sunglasses and choreographed Men In Black dance. Going viral at a time when many people didn’t even understand what that meant, it remains one of the best walkouts in UFC history.

36. Astro Girl & Tafa boys create history

After completing a double degree in science and robotics engineering, Alex Chambers deviated sideways somewhat to become Australia’s first female UFC fighter. Incredibly, the honour was earned only an hour before Queensland mum Bec Rawlings became the second, with both appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 20 finale. More recently, Justin and Junior Tafa have also inked their names into UFC history by joining some 30 sets of siblings who have competed inside the Octagon — among them the Shamrocks, Diaz boys, even Sydney’s Mokhtarian brothers, Ashkan and Suman Mokhtarian.

35. Alex Prates wins third NRL premiership

Nobody tell poor ol’ Nathan Hindmarsh, but a Brazilian cattle farmer named Alex Prates has not only earned one of those NRL premierships that forever eluded him – but three. Best known as the head coach of Australia’s Robert Whittaker, Prates has also become embedded in rugby league since moving Down Under, with the esteemed black belt acting as wrestling coach for South Sydney’s historic 2014 win and the Penrith Panthers recent back-to-back titles. Instrumental to that success too has been UFC middleweight Jacob Malkoun, who has worked closely with the likes of Sam Burgess, Nathan Cleary, even Payne Haas. Inside the Octagon, ‘Mamba’ has also won three of his last four, and is now pencilled in for a fight in late September.

34. Hippo’s 17 second KO

Apart from boasting the greatest fight name in UFC history, Anthony ‘The Hippo’ Perosh is also remembered for a crazy career that opened with him bloodied by Mirko Crop Cop and later stopped by Ryan Jimmo in seven seconds, but also going on a tear of three straight, and eventually winning a couple more – which included this Aussie fight pioneer needing just 14 seconds to starch Vinny Magalhaes at UFC 163 in Brazil back in 2013. Over the ensuing years, Hippo has found himself joined by a host of wonderful Aussie fight stories that includes the likes of Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei, Bra Boy Richie Vas, tech whiz Ben Nguyen, Airlie Beach science teacher Anton Zafir and former soldier Damien Brown, the now promoter whose life outside fighting has also been devoted to helping fellow veterans deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

33. Hector Lombard switches

Adopted Aussie Hector Lombard signed what was a landmark UFC deal in 2012, jumping from Bellator for a reported US$700,000. A ferocious finisher, the muscled Cuban – who arrived Down Under for the 2000 Olympics and never left — was one of Bellator’s first genuine stars following a string of knockouts that saw him then switch to the Octagon on a run of 24 wins. In a dozen UFC appearances however, Lombard won only three. He is, however, still fighting and winning now at age 45 – most recently in a bareknuckle contest on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather versus John Gotti III.

32. Learn the name, Jack Della Maddalena

Hailed the Next Big Thing of Australian MMA, Jack Della arrived in sensational style at UFC 270, when he scored a first round finish of Pete Rodriguez. From there, the Perth native has knocked up three more first rounders, earned a UFC Rookie of the Year gong, $150,000 in bonuses and is now looking to throw down again this Sunday at UFC 290 in Las Vegas. JDM tops an exciting new crew of breakout Aussies which also includes Sydney featherweight Josh Culibao, who is now unbeaten in four straight Octagon appearances. Most recently, Culibao pulled of a stunning comeback at UFC 284, submitting Melsik Baghdasaryan via rear-naked choke after copping an earlier blow to the dusters so severe, the poor bugger was struggling to breathe.

Watch UFC 290: Volkanovski v Rodríguez plus the return of Robert Whittaker as he takes on Dricus Du Plessis on Main Event available on Kayo Sports. Sunday July 9 from 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

31. Tuivasa walks out to Titanic classic

OK, so we could’ve gone with Tuivasa walking out to Barbie Girl, or even The Spice Girls, but our favourite has to be that night in Chicago where the heavyweight was almost carried to the cage by some 20,000 fans singing Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On. Better, Tuivasa would then go out and beat Andrei Arlovski in a UFC 225 classic so brutal, he showed up for interviews afterwards still bloody, missing bark and with wads of tissue and gauze shoved up his nose. That the heavyweight’s walkout playlist comprises songs he used to sing with mum while driving about western Sydney as a kid only makes it all more special.

30. Queensland boy picks a fight, then another, and another

When it comes to the UFC’s most powerful men, one of the most notable spots belongs to Aussie Mick Maynard, a Queensland native, Texas ratepayer and matchmaker for UFC president Dana White. Which is some story. Special mention also to Perth boy Tim Simpson, who has risen up to become the heavyweight agent for superstars like Israel Adesanya, Max Holloway, Leon Edwards, Jiri Prochazka and Tai ‘Bam Bam’ Tuivasa, while another West Australian Ash Belcastro has seen his Engage combat gear go global while also managing the career of UFC champ Alexander Volkanovski.

29. Bisping offers to throw Rockhold into Sydney Harbour

On the eve of their Australian headliner in 2014, arch rivals Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold were asked to pose up by The Daily Telegraph – together – down by the Opera House. And, of course, given the pair had already engaged in days of trash talk, which included Rockhold offering to wager $100,000 on a KO, it went pear shaped. As soon as the pair arrived for the shoot, they started jawing at one another, with Bisping then threatening, first, to throw Rockhold into the drink and, seconds later, the Tele photographer. The two men then continued trading insults for what seemed an eternity before eventually heading off. Almost as impressive too was the event just days later, where all 11 fights ended in finishes. Amid the chaos, Rockhold submitted Bisping, and Rob Whittaker kneed Clint Hester almost unconsciousness.

28. Ever heard of Jimmy Crute?

This phrase will forever be tattooed to the rising Australian light heavyweight who, not so long ago, was living out of a van behind his Melbourne gym. And it all stems from that infamous press conference before Melbourne’s UFC 234, when a journalist asked Dana White if said card was a little, err, top heavy. “What did you say this card was?” White snapped back. “Top heavy? Ever heard of Crute? Ever heard of Jimmy Crute?” Wonderfully, Crute then went out days later on the undercard and completely demolished Sam Alvey as part of a start that saw him win five of six inside the Octagon, including his Contender Series debut. Currently ranked No.14 in the light heavyweight division, the Melbournian is looking to continue what he insists will be his own title run in a rematch against Alonzo Menifield at UFC 290, Sunday.

27. Whittaker headkicks Brunson

On a night where he wasn’t even supposed to headline, Bobby Knuckles went and stole the show in every sense. While Melbourne’s 2016 UFC Fight Night card was initially set to be headlined by Luke Rockhold and Jacare Souza, an injury to the former saw it quickly morph into what is now one of the nation’s most remembered events – Robert Whittaker versus Derrick Brunson. Despite the pressure of being promoted to his first headliner, the Sydney underdog immediately confirmed himself a genuine title threat with a massive first round stoppage. After an intense opening few minutes, Whittaker then rocked a swarming Brunson with a big left hook, before switching to uppercuts, a straight right, elbow, and – crack – big headkick, from where the Aussie then dropped his rival with punches and finish him on the ground as the crowd went berko. On the undercard too, a Wollongong concreter named Alexander Volkanovski also arrived in every sense, earning a TKO win over Yusuke Kasuya in his UFC debut.

26. Tyson Pedro’s Comeback

When Tyson Pedro busted his ACL against Brazilian legend Shogun Rua in 2018, he was supposed to be sidelined for a year. Instead, and thanks to the cruellest run of bad luck, it eventually became closer to four. Yet in what now stands as the greatest injury comeback in UFC history, Pedro eventually returned to defeat Ike Villanueva via first round KO. Special mention also to the fighter’s old man and Aussie fight pioneer John Pedro, who was instrumental in the growth of MMA back when few wanted anything to do with it. Indeed, of all the stories told over the years by Australian fighters, there have been few surpassing the incredible bond between this fighter and his old man – who stabbed him in the chest, knocked out both front teeth and left him unconscious on no less than three occassions. Haven’t heard? Read it here.

Stay tuned for the greatest Australian moments in UFC, with numbers 25 to 1 to be revealed on foxsports.com.au on Wednesday ahead of UFC 290 this weekend — and order the fight here!