AFL and NRL footy stars join Chris Hemsworth’s right-hand man and NSW Premier Chris Minns to see one of the biggest upsets in martial arts history at UFC 293

  •  Aussie stars show up for UFC 293 in Sydney
  •  NSW Premier Chris Minns spotted leaving event
  •  Sean Strickland shocked world with upset win

Latrell Mitchell, Tom Hawkins and the NSW Premier Chris Minns led the stars in attendance at the UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Saturday.

Sean Strickland stunned the MMA world by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history as he took Israel Adesanya’s middleweight crown via unanimous decision.

NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell was in attendance for the bout, posting a shot to social media with No Limit boxing promoters George and Matt Rose.

Luke Zocchi, personal trainer and good friend of Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, was spotted leaving the arena with AFL star Tom Hawkins after the event.

Panthers playmaker Nathan Cleary was seated in the front row supporting his Drink West business partner Tyson Pedro – who scored an emphatic knockout victory early on the main card.

Tom Hawkins (yellow shirt) pictured leaving Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney with Chris Hemsworth's right-hand man Luke Zocchi (black jacket)

Tom Hawkins (yellow shirt) pictured leaving Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney with Chris Hemsworth’s right-hand man Luke Zocchi (black jacket)

NSW Premier Chris Minns was was also spotted leaving the event on Sunday

NSW Premier Chris Minns was was also spotted leaving the event on Sunday

Cleary’s other business partner, UFC heavyweight knockout artist Tai Tuivasa, didn’t fare so well and was submitted in front of the sell-out Sydney crowd.

Elsewhere, Olympic gold medal swimmer Kyle Chalmers was also in attendance, posting footage from the crowd pledging his support for friend Tyson Pedro.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has made a $16million promise to fund three UFC events in NSW, was also spotted leaving the fight fest.

Minns was questioned by 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday morning about the experience, explaining that his wife wouldn’t let him take his kids along.

Asked by Fordham if he’d let his son become a UFC fighter, the premier defended the popular combat sport, which is often criticised for putting fighters’ health at risk due to the concussions they suffer. 

‘I’ve got to be honest with you – I think it gets a bad rap,’ he said.

‘Jujitsu and wrestling are the foundation of the sport… in many cases it’s not as dangerous as the knocks to the head that routinely occur in professional boxing.

‘As a result a lot of parents are enrolling their children, for example, in grappling, jujitsu, wrestling… and I think that’s a good thing.’

NRL star Latrell Mitchell (second from left) was photographed taking in the action with boxing promoters George (left) and Matt Rose (front)

NRL star Latrell Mitchell (second from left) was photographed taking in the action with boxing promoters George (left) and Matt Rose (front)

Geelong star Tom Hawkins (left) and Chris Hemsworth's trainer Luke Zocchi (second from left, front row) are pictured cageside with friends

Geelong star Tom Hawkins (left) and Chris Hemsworth’s trainer Luke Zocchi (second from left, front row) are pictured cageside with friends

Sean Strickland is pictured landing a punch on Israel Adesanya during his underdog win, which shocked the MMA world

Sean Strickland is pictured landing a punch on Israel Adesanya during his underdog win, which shocked the MMA world 

Fifth-ranked Strickland shocked the world with his victory, with all three judges scoring the bout 49-46 for the American.

Strickland survived a comeback of sorts from Adesanya in the second, then took the remaining stanzas of the contest with a brilliant effort that saw him continually pressure his rival and land big shots.

The new world champ was overcome with emotion in the octagon after the decision was announced and told the crowd, ‘Am I f**king dreaming? Am I going to wake up? Someone hit me!

‘I don’t cry much but I’m trying to keep my s**t together right now.’

Commentator and former heavyweight world champion Daniel Cormier was also stunned by the result.

‘It was a mountain he wasn’t supposed to climb. He wasn’t even supposed to be in this fight,’ he said, referring to the fact Strickland was a late replacement for the injured Dricus du Plessis.

‘It’s crazy. That’s why this sport is like no other. You don’t know, you just don’t know.

‘That was very clear and every judge got it right. It was four rounds to one for Sean Strickland, and he beat one of the greatest middleweights of all time.’

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Post source: Daily mail

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