Tom Wright is optimistic about the UFC’s November return to Australia, a country that, according to the UFC executive, consistently “punches above its weight.”

As the organization announced this past month, UFC 193 is slated for Sunday, Nov. 15, in Melbourne. Due to the time change, the pay-per-view card airs in the U.S. on Saturday, Nov. 14.

According to Wright, the managing director of UFC operations for Canada, Australia and New Zealand, it should be a major event thanks to Australia’s – and neighboring New Zealand’s – strong MMA support.

“To borrow a line from boxing, MMA punches above its weight, and it does so in New Zealand, as well,” he told MMAjunkie’s John Morgan on The MMA Road Show prior to this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night 65 event in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. “But we still have come challenges, some issues that are all about trying to grow and develop the sport. Because, you’ve got to remember, it’s still young.

“And while globally, we’re just a teenager, here in New Zealand and Australia, I’d say we’re three to five years behind of the development of the sport in other areas, particularly North America.”

The Melbourne event was a long time coming. Earlier this year, the State of Victoria overturned a ban that perviously prevented MMA from taking place in a caged fighting surface. With the UFC’s famed octagon now a legal fighting apparatus, Wright said UFC 193 will come down to one of two venues: a 55,000-seat stadium or a 15,000-seat arena.

“We’ve got Etihad Stadium held, and we’ve got Rod Laver Arena held,” Wright said. “We’ve got options.”

While filling a 55,000-seat venue would be no easy feat, Wright is optimistic UFC 193 will have a lineup that encourages ticket sales – both to the local market, as well as international fight fans who may visit Australia for the first time.

“First and foremost, we’re going to bring a major, global pay-per-view event to this country and to the city of Melbourne,” he said. ” … When you bring a pay-per-view to any market, you guarantee at least one, and maybe two championships, which is really important. And you’ve always heard me say that we’ve got one chance to make a first impression – and Victoria is a big state. The city of Melbourne is a global city, and it really is in many ways the sporting capital, certainly of Australia.

“So we really want to bring a big event.”

Ultimately, that UFC 193 lineup – which won’t be determined until officials have a better idea of fighter availability – will likely determine which Melbourne venue hosts the show.

“We don’t know what kind of card is going to be available,” he said. “We don’t know whether it’s going to be heavyweights and maybe Ronda (Rousey), or it could be another championship. So depending on the card, I think it’s prudent planning on our part to have some flexibility. We don’t know who’s going to be available. You don’t know who’s going to be ready. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

For more on UFC 193, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.