Robert Whittaker wants to return to Perth — one of his happiest hunting grounds — to fight for Australia’s first undisputed UFC title.

Whittaker, 26, broke through as a star this month when he beat Cuban Yoel Romero to win the interim middleweight title at UFC 213 in Las Vegas.

The gritty come-from-behind victory earned him a shot at champion Michael Bisping once the British veteran returns from injury.

The Sydney father of two has already made it clear he would like the title unification bout to happen in Australia.

Bisping and UFC president Dana White like the idea.

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Camera Icon Robert Whittaker celebrates after defeating Yoel Romero in a middleweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 213. Credit: AP

The UFC has an event scheduled for November 19 in Sydney but Whittaker wants more time to recover from niggling injuries.

That leaves the UFC’s planned debut in Perth in the box seat.

White added to the anticipation after UFC 213 when he said fans were “screaming” at him to hold the fight in Perth.

It is understood the UFC has reserved a couple of dates at Perth Arena in early 2018.

The promotion is eager to make a splash in WA after the State Government lifted the ban on the “cage” or Octagon this year.

A clash between Whittaker (19-4) and Bisping (30-7) would be a fitting headliner for a pay-per-view event.

“To be able to fight in Australia on a pay-per-view card, for the first time in Perth ... would be absolutely unreal,” Whittaker said.

Camera Icon Whittaker says fans have been “screaming” for the Perth bout. Credit: AP

“There’s a huge backing for MMA over there.”

Whittaker has fond memories of Perth as the city where he made a successful start to his career in 2009, then won his first title three years later.

“There was definitely significance in those fights for me,” Whittaker said.

“The first one was my first MMA fight and it was the kicking off point.

“It’s the point where I said, ‘You know what? I love this’. It’s the point where I turned the corner and said, ‘This is what I want to do from now on’.

“My first local title — that was my first taste of hard work paying off, of putting in the hard work and getting that recognition.”