Australian middleweight fighter Robert Whittaker has promised fireworks when he takes on American Derek Brunson in the headline bout of Sunday's UFC Fight Night event in Melbourne.
Whittaker became just the fourth Australian to headline a UFC card when the previous main event between middleweights Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo Souza was postponed after Rockhold suffered an injury.
The match-up over five rounds at Rod Laver Arena promises to be an even one, with Whittaker (17 wins - 4 losses) and Brunson (16-3) currently ranked seventh and eighth in the world respectively.
"This Sunday there are going to be fireworks," Whittaker told reporters on Wednesday.
"This is the biggest fight I've had to date and every fight I take is a stepping stone to the next platform.
"This fight is no different ... he is in my way in taking those next steps and I've got to get through him.
"There are no excuses ... we're both going to go out and there and put it all on the line.
"We've both trained hard, we've both put in (the time), and we'll be trying to take each other's blocks off.
"It should be fun."
Both fighters take impressive form into the much-anticipated bout having each won their past five fights.
Organisers are expecting a big turn out of fans of the increasingly popular sport following on from the 55,000-strong crowd that watched last year's Ronda Rousey-Holly Holm fight at Etihad Stadium.
"I'm trying not to think about too much ... I'm trying to take my mind off it as much as I can," Whittaker said.
"Come fight night there will be nerves but it's how you react to those nerves - doing what you need to regardless - that's how you win fights."
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