'Time to move on': UFC Octagon Girls could be DUMPED over politicians' complaints that women parading in bikinis at fights is 'outdated'

  • Calls for Octagon Girls to be banned from UFC events
  • Campaigners are calling for an end to this 'sexist and backward' custom 
  • They want it scrapped before a big fight night in Melbourne on October 6 

By CHARLIE MOORE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

The Victorian Premier and Melbourne's Lord Mayor have called for scantily clad Octagon Girls to be banned from a UFC event in the city next month.

Mixed martial arts, like boxing, has bikini-clad women parade around the cage with the upcoming round number.

Political figures have called for an end to the 'sexist and backward' custom - and want it scrapped before a big fight night in Melbourne on October 6.

At UFC fights bikini-clad women parade the cage with the number of each round before it starts

At UFC fights bikini-clad women parade the cage with the number of each round before it starts

Campaigners are calling for an end to this 'sexist and backward' custom - and want it scrapped before a big fight night in Melbourne on October 6

Campaigners are calling for an end to this 'sexist and backward' custom - and want it scrapped before a big fight night in Melbourne on October 6.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp said the tradition is outdated.

'It's 2019, do we really still need scantily clad women to wander around the middle of a fighting ring between rounds?' she told the Herald Sun. 

Last year Melbourne's Formula One Grand Prix banned grid girls - who stand beside each car on the starting grid with a sign showing the name and nationality of the competing driver - and walk-on girls were banned from the darts world championships.

'Grid girls are no longer part of Formula One, walk-on girls are no longer part of professional darts - surely it's time to move on,' said Ms Capp.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews also said the Octagon girls should be put out of a job.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp said the tradition is outdated. Pictured: Octagon girls
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews also said the Octagon girls should be put out of a job.

Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp said the tradition is outdated. Pictured: Octagon girls 

'The Grand Prix did the right thing in ending the use of grid girls and we encourage other events to make similar moves,' his spokesman said.

The UFC issue followed the banning of ring girls for Jeff Horn's boxing bout against Michael Zerafa last weekend.

Promoters of the 'Battle of Bendigo' replaced the girls with a man, after coming under fire from local councillors and women's advocacy groups.

City of Greater Bendigo councillors Yvonne Wrigglesworth and Jennifer Alden were critical of the between-rounds custom which has been part of the sport for many decades.  

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