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

Latrell Mitchell, Tom Hawkins and NSW Premier Chris Minns headlined the UFC 293 event at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday.

Sean Strickland stunned the MMA world by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when he captured the middleweight crown from Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision.

NRL superstar Latrell Mitchell was in attendance at the fight and posted a photo on social media with No Limit boxing promoters George and Matt Rose.

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

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

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

Cleary’s other business partner, UFC heavyweight knockout artist Tai Tuivasa, did not fare as well and was presented in front of the sold-out crowd in Sydney.

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 $16 million pledge to fund three UFC events in NSW, was also seen leaving the fight event.

Minns was questioned by 2GB’s Ben Fordham about the experience on Monday morning, explaining that his wife would not allow him to take his children.

When asked by Fordham whether he would let his son become a UFC fighter, the prime minister defended the popular combat sport, which is often criticized for endangering the health of fighters due to the concussions they suffer.

“I have to be honest with you: I think it’s getting a bad rap,” he said.

‘Jujitsu and wrestling are the basis of the sport… in many cases it is not as dangerous as the head blows that routinely occur in professional boxing.

“As a result, a lot of parents are getting their kids involved in things like wrestling, jiu-jitsu, grappling… and I think that’s a good thing.”

NRL star Latrell Mitchell (second from left) was photographed 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 with friends

Sean Strickland is pictured landing a punch on Israel Adesanya during his underdog victory that shocked the MMA world

The fifth-ranked Strickland shocked the world with his win, with all three judges scoring the fight 49-46 for the American.

Strickland survived a comeback of sorts from Adesanya in the second and then took over the remaining stanzas of the match with a brilliant effort, constantly pressuring his rival and landing big shots.

The new world champion was overcome with emotion in the octagon after the decision was announced, telling the crowd: ‘Am I fucking dreaming? Will I wake up? Someone hit me!

“I don’t cry much, but I’m trying to keep it all together now.”

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

‘It was a mountain he was not allowed to climb. He shouldn’t even have been at this fight,” he said, referring to the fact that 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 was right. It was four rounds to one for Sean Strickland, and he defeated one of the greatest middleweights of all time.”