OPPOSITION leader Mark McGowan wants to knock out WA’s ban on Mixed Martial Arts fighting in the cage-style octagons.

The move would open the door to Perth hosting a bout of the highly-popular Ultimate Fighting Championships — a potentially lucrative event for the state.

Current WA law allows mixed martial arts fights to occur in a boxing ring rather than an octagon with a mesh safety barrier.

Mr McGowan’s call for cage fighting to be allowed in WA comes just days after the full extent of UFC fighter’s skull injuries were revealed after a bout in London.

Camera Icon Brock Lesnar on top of Mark Hunt during their heavyweight mixed martial arts bout in Las Vegas. Credit: AP, AP/John Locher

UFC fighter Evangelista Santos was left on the canvas clutching his face in agony after falling to a crushing flying knee from Michael Page at Bellator 158 in London.

Santos’ skull was dented as a result of the strike, prompting his ex-wife to ask for thoughts, prayers and donations as Santos recovered in hospital.

Mr McGowan, who previously supported the government ban on enclosed fights, now says the safety argument for the mesh safety barrier stacks up.

He said fighters in a boxing ring were at greater risk of toppling through the ropes and falling on the floor from a height, whereas a barrier would prevent that.

“MMA isn’t for everyone but we can’t just turn a blind eye to what already happens in our state,” he said.

“Mixed Martial Arts is one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia and it takes place across Perth’s suburbs, but it’s happening without the safety of an octagon safety barrier.

“We want to make all MMA sports safer and reduce the likelihood of serious injury.”

WA remains the only state to ban cage fighting in the mesh enclosure after Victoria rescinded the law last year.

Ultimate Fighting Championship events have been held in Sydney and Melbourne, attracting crowds up to 60,000 people and international television coverage.

However WA Premier Colin Barnett has repeatedly said “cage fighting’’ is not a sport that WA wants to encourage.