Robert Whittaker returns to the Octagon for the first time in more than 15 months when he defends his middleweight title against Israel Adesanya.
Whittaker was last in action in the summer of 2018 when he decisioned Yoel Romero for a second time, 12 months after doing the same to win the interim 185lb title.
He was upgraded to full champion when Georges St-Pierre vacated and now takes on one of the brightest talents in MMA in Adesanya.
The 30-year-old earned his shot at the champion by beating Kelvin Gastelum and Anderson Silva.
Here is everything you need to know about UFC 243...
When is UFC 243?
The event takes place on Sunday, October 6 at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia
What time will the main event start?
The main event will start at around 3pm local time which is 6am on Sunday in the UK
What TV channel is it on?
The fights will be shown on BT Sport in the UK
Is there a live stream?
The fights can be streamed via the BT Sport website or app. Click here for more details
What is the full card?
Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya
Al Iaquinta vs Dan Hooker
Tai Tuivasa vs Serghei Spivak
Luke Jumeau vs Dhiego Lima
Justin Tafa vs Yorgan De Castro
Jake Matthews vs Rostem Akman
Callan Potter vs Maki Pitolo
Jamie Mullarkey vs Brad Riddell
Megan Anderson vs Zairh Fairn dos Santos
Nadia Kassem vs Ji Yeon Kim
Khalid Taha vs Bruno Silva
What are the odds?
Whittaker 8/11
Adesanya 6/5
Latest news
UFC president Dana White expects Robert Whittaker vs Israel Adesanya to be the biggest fight in Australian history.
More than 50,000 fans are expected to pack into the Marvel Stadium to watch the New Zealand-born Whittaker defend his middleweight title.
And White said: "This is the perfect fight at the perfect time with the two best athletes in the division.
"I am pumped to go back to Melbourne for this massive event. To have two champions in Whittaker and Adesanya fighting for the title on home turf is huge.
"This will be the biggest fight in Australian history."
Adesanya not worried about Whittaker
Israel Adesanya has dismissed the idea he will face a new challenge in the shape of Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya will bid to win the UFC middleweight title in Melbourne when he takes on Whittaker on Saturday.
And he believes he has the Australian worked out.
“He’s a guy I can pick apart easily,” Adesanya said. “A challenge I haven’t faced before? I don’t think so. He just does what he does very well.
"There’s only a certain amount of awkwardness that he has that I haven’t seen before, but he can try to prove me wrong. From what I see, though, I’ll pick him apart quite easily."
