WHAT TIME DOES IT START

The first fights of the day will begin at 10:00am Australian time on Fox Sports with the main card kicking off at 12:00pm. You’ll have to buy it on Main Event for $49.95 or duck down the pub.

Whittaker’s fight should start at about 1:30, 2:00 range.

WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?

In the comfort of your own home if you’ve got Foxtel and you pay the $49.95 for Main Event. Otherwise, head to your local Fox Sports venue.

You can also follow along on our live blog, we’ll have all the action, reaction and aftermath as it happens.

WHERE IS IT ON?

The United Centre in Chicago, but there’s a distinctly Australian flavour. Apart from Whittaker, rising heavyweight Tai Tuivasa will take on former champ Andrei Arlovski and featherweight Megan Anderson could secure a title shot with a win over Holly Holm.

BIG FELLA: The life and times of Tai Tuivasa

NO WAY: Whittaker stays away from spotlight

STAR: Bam Bam is ready for his close up

HOLLY HOLM? THE ONE WHO KNOCKED OUT RONDA ROUSEY?

Yes. That happened in Melbourne at UFC 193 in November of 2015. It was wild.

DIDN’T WHITTAKER FIGHT ROMERO BEFORE?

He did, almost exactly a year ago. Whittaker faced Romero for the interim middleweight title and won a unanimous decision victory, despite getting through the majority of the fight with a knee injury that doctors described as “pretty bloody crook”.

WHAT’S HAPPENED SINCE THEN?

Well Michael Bisping, who was the champion, lost his belt to Georges St-Pierre, the former welterweight champion who returned from a five-year retirement to win the belt in New York in November. St-Pierre abdicated the crown shortly afterwards and Whittaker was promoted to undisputed champion.

THAT SOUNDS COMPLEX!

Man, we’re just getting started. Whittaker was then supposed to make his first title defence in Perth at UFC 225 in February against former champion Luke Rockhold, but the Mt Annan product was ruled out with a staph infection that went wrong. Romero was pitched in for a hastily arranged interim title but missed weight, meaning Rockhold could win the title and Romero could not.

True to form, Romero knocked Rockhold silly in the third round and established himself as the top contender and we’re right back where we started a year ago.

BRUH

Yeah, it’s been a wild time for middleweights in recent years. Ever since Bisping knocked out Rockhold it’s been crazy times at 185 pounds. But Whittaker-Romero 2 is a good chance for the division to reset. The winner will be the best middleweight in the world without a doubt and with Kelvin Gastelum waiting in the wings as the new top challenger order will be restored.

SO WHO WINS?

It’s very hard to go past Whittaker. He beat Romero on one leg last time, fighting off the Cuban’s fearsome take-downs and navigating his power strikes with great aplomb while firing off a varied and creative striking arsenal that seems to get deeper with each fight.

Whittaker is yet to lose a fight since moving up from welterweight and his skill set has only grown more well rounded as he’s climbed up the rankings. Our tentative pick is Whittaker by decision again, perhaps with a late knockout. But it’s no certainty, because Romero is equipped with the kind of power and striking craft that can end a fight in an instant.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

If Whittaker wins, a fight with Gastelum would be terrific. The compact American has wickedly fast hands and has carried his power up from welterweight. A fight between the two has the potential to be an instant classic.

If Romero wins, a trilogy fight will likely be ordered, perhaps with Whittaker taking a tune up fight in the interim.

WHO IS THE FAVOURITE?

Whittaker is a $1.43 with our friends at the TAB, Romero is out at $2.80. The Australian should be the favourite but that’s overs for Romero.

WHO ARE THE OTHER AUSTRALIANS ON THE CARD?

You might have seen videos of Tai Tuivasa doing a shoey after he beat Cyril Asker in Perth, or heard about how he played Under 20s at the Roosters but the only thing you need to know is that Tuivasa is on the verge of UFC stardom.

Heavyweight is not a deep division and Tuivasa’s two wins have been enough to get him into the top 10. A win over Arlovski, a former champion who is past his best, would get him to the cusp of the top five.

The spotlight hangs easily on the big fella, and we could be in for a star-making performance if he gets the job done against the Belarusian. Make sure you tune in.

AND THE OTHER AUSSIE, MEGAN ANDERSON?

Anderson has taken a circuitous route to her first UFC bout — the Invicta featherweight champion was supposed to face Brazilian menace Cris “Cyborg” Santos last June but the bout fell through. Since then, Anderson has been on the shelf but she’s still only one win away from the title due to the shallowness of the new division.

Holm, the former bantamweight champ, took Cyborg to a decision last year but has struggled for consistency since dusting Rousey. She’s the most decorated opponent of Anderson’s career and a tall order.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER GOOD FIGHTS?

Mate, throw a rock and you’ll hit a good biff. American villain Colby Covington will take on Brazilian buzz saw Rafael dos Anjos for the interim welterweight title, Dutch legend Alistair Overeem faces the rising Curts Blaydes, Caludia Gadelha will tangle with Carla Esparza, Ricardo Lamas will hash it out with Mirsad Bektic, Joe Benavidez is getting it on with Sergio Pettis, it’s crazy. This is the best UFC card of the year so far.

WHAT ABOUT CM PUNK?

What about him?

HE’S ON THIS CARD AS WELL ISN’T HE?

Yeah. He’s taking on Mike Jackson.

WELL TELL ME ABOUT THAT, WHAT’S THE GO?

CM Punk, or Phil Brooks when he’s at home, is a former professional wrestler who signed with the UFC in 2014. Sine then he’s had one fight, a first round submission loss to Micky Gall. Mike Jackson is also 0-1, also losing to Gall by first round submission.

HOW’S IT GOING TO GO?

Does it matter? CM Punk is 39 years old and doesn’t have a future in MMA outside of being a draw. His fights will not be entertaining, but he seems like an alright dude so that’s something.

JESUS, YOU SOUND GRUMPY

Whatever man, you’re asking the questions.

CAN I WATCH THIS AND JEFF HORN?

You’ll have to pony up $100 all together to do so, but with a but of luck it can be done. Assuming Horn’s undercard wraps up in quick time, his bout with Crawford will hopefully be wrapping up just as Tuivasa takes the stage.

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