Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live THIS MORNING (Sat., May 2, 2026) with UFC Perth, streaming online via Paramount+. The event is happening inside RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, and will be going live at 4 a.m. ET (early start time details here). The main event is Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates in the Welterweight division.
UFC’s latest trip “Down Under” follows a predictable “Australia vs. The World” theme. In the main event, Della Maddalena reps Australia against the Brazilian, Prates. This is Della Maddalena’s first fight since the one-sided drubbing he took from Islam Makhachev. Prates comes into this one on a two-fight win streak that includes devastating KOs of Geoff Neal and Leon Edwards (see that one again here).
A win for Prates surely makes him the next man up after Makhachev reportedly fights Ian Machado Garry (the only man to beat Prates in UFC).
Fight Streak results for UFC Vegas 116! Make Your Picks for UFC Perth
That was a bloodbath, folks.
The upset laden UFC Vegas 116 broke a number of streaks, mostly thanks to Jafel Filho and Rodolfo Vieira getting out worked. I went with Filho, too.
Uh Huh takes the top spot now. They are on a 4 pick streak, having won with Michelle Montague on the weekend.
Behind them is AllDayJ and Steve007. AllDayJ didn’t make a pick last week, but Steve did. He went with Raoni Barcelos.
Main card
170 lbs.: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates
155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg
265 lbs.: Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic
265 lbs.: Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland
Prelims
185 lbs.: Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek
205 lbs.: Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian
185 lbs.: Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert
135 lbs.: Colby Thicknesse vs. Vince Morales
185 lbs.: Wes Schultz vs. Ben Johnston
170 lbs.: Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo
155 lbs.: Kody Steele vs. Dom Mar Fan
It’s another tough one this weekend. I’m going with the Battle Giraffe Cam Rowston, though.
The co-main event pits wunderkind, Quillan Salkilld, against wily veteran, Beneil Dariush. Salkilld has looked flawless thus far in his UFC career, which included a brutal headkick knockout over Nasrat Haqparast (re-live that one here). Dariush, meanwhile, is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Benoit Saint Denis. If Salkilld wins this, he’s a serious contender in the crammed Lightweight division.
Also on this main card is Steve Erceg vs. Tim Elliott, Brando Pericic vs. Shamil Gaziev and Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland. Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid was thrown in a few days ago to make up the numbers.
The featured “Prelim” today is Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek. Other undercard fights of note include Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo and Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert.
What fight made you a fan?
MMA first came on my radar when I saw Cro Cop highlights on The Best Damn Sports Show Period (which was not something I watched religiously or anything). But the first season of TUF really drew me in and then, the finale is what totally sold me.
I remember being in a friend’s basement, by myself, watching it and wishing there were other people to see it. I think there was a party or something and most people were asleep.
What about you, which fight do you remember selling you on the sport and what were the circumstances around it?
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UFC Perth Start Date and Time
We are doing something different this weekend. The Australian fans get to have this at prime time, for them, so we in North America are having a rare early start.
UFC Perth’s “Prelims” will begin at 4 a.m. ET.UFC Perth’s main card is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. ET.All of UFC Perth airs on Paramount+, which you can stream here.
The live blog here starts rolling below at 4 a.m. ET. Come in and say hi!
170 lbs.: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates155 lbs.: Quillan Salkilld def. Beneil Dariush by TKO (punches), round 1 (3:29) — HIGHLIGHTS125 lbs.: Steve Erceg def. Tim Elliott by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)145 lbs.: Marwan Rahiki def. Ollie Schmid by TKO (left hook and ground strikes), round 1 (2:47) — HIGHLIGHTS265 lbs.: Brando Pericic def. Shamil Gaziev by KO (punch), round 2 (3:44) — HIGHLIGHTS265 lbs.: Louie Sutherland def. Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)185 lbs.: Cam Rowston def. Robert Bryczek by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)205 lbs.: Junior Tafa def. Kevin Christian by KO (ground elbows), round 1 (2:42) — HIGHLIGHTS185 lbs.: Jacob Malkoun def. Gerald Meerschaert by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)135 lbs.: Colby Thicknesse def. Vince Morales by unanimous decision (29-28. 29-28. 29-28)185 lbs.: Wes Schultz def. Ben Johnston by submission (guillotine), round 3 (1:15)170 lbs.: Jonathan Micallef def. Themba Gorimbo by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)155 lbs.: Kody Steele def. Dom Mar Fan by submission (heel hook), round 1 (3:53) — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC PERTH PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Prates
Round 1: JDM took the center of the cage, immediately, with his hands up high. Prates backed off and circled away looking to create lots of space. A chess game ensued with neither man landing anything of note until Prates scored a knee through JDM’s guard at about the minute mark. Della Maddalana then landed a takedown 30 seconds later. The takedown wasn’t enough to take the round, though, due to Prates landing marginally more offense.
Round 2: Prates landed another good knee early, as Della Maddalena was preparing to shoot for a takedown. The Aussie ate it well, though. Della Maddalena then scored a takedown and tried to take the back. He was too high, though, and Prates shook him off. Prates was able to get off some nice shots from range after that. Della Maddalena later landed his best punch of the fight so far, an uppercut with Prates backed onto the fence. Della Maddalena came forwards looking to follow up, but he got chewed up by a barrage of punches that, despite being blocked, hurt him. Della Maddalena survived that and then landed some hard shots of his own. At the end of the round Prates dropped Della Maddalena with a leg kick. Huge round for the Brazilian.
Round 3: Prates landed a big knee, body kick and elbow early in the round. The elbow opened up a cut. Della Maddalena unsuccessfully tried to take the fight to the ground, but couldn’t do it. Another big knee was his punishment. Prates then landed a head kick around the guard to drop Della Maddalena. He let JDM back up and then hit him with more punishment. Moments later Prates dropped him again with leg kicks. He then got on top and started landing elbows until the referee called it off. Devastating performance from Prates on enemy soil.
Official decision: Carlos Prates def. Jack Della Maddalena by TKO (leg kicks and ground elbows), round 3 (3:17)
Quillan Salkilld vs. Beneil Dariush
Round 1: Dariush clipped Salkilld early, putting him down, but Salkilld popped right up. Dariush tried to seize on the moment with a back take. He couldn’t manage it, though. Lots of clinching along the fence followed. But Salkilld eventually got free and started swinging. Those punches connected and Dariush went down and out.
Official decision: Quillan Salkilld def. Beneil Dariush by TKO (punches), round 1 (3:29)
Steve Erceg vs. Tim Elliott
Round 1: This was winging punches versus straight punches. Erceg’s straight punches landed more regularly and a few really snapped Elliott’s head back. Elliott was able to land as well, though. Erceg went down to a knee at one point, but it looked more like a slip. Elliott was able to land a pair of takedowns towards the end of the round, though. Those takedowns steal him the round.
Round 2: Erceg did a better job og avoiding Elliott’s herky jerky punches in this round and was able to land a few stiff one-twos that got reactions out of Elliott. Elliott got a takedown, but Erceg was able to prevent himself getting stuck on the ground. He popped up and then kept taking Elliott apart on the feet. He then landed a surprising takedown, but then missed his back take and let Elliott back up. Erceg landed more hard combos, after that.
Round 3: Erceg’s precision striking looked very good in this round. The damage really built up for Elliott and he was left stumbling forwards looking for a big shot. As he did that, Erceg continued to tag him with straight punches and combos. Elliott charged in for a takedown, but couldn’t keep Erceg down. On the feet he took more punishment, but was too tough to go down.
Official decision: Steve Erceg def. Tim Elliott by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid
Round 1: Rahiki did what was expected of him here. He flashed kicks and landed overhand rights. Schmid didn’t shy away. He tried to mix it up, but he left himself open. And Rahiki soon sat him down with a hook. He then finished him with ground strikes for the quick win.
Official decision: Marwan Rahiki def. Ollie Schmid by TKO (left hook and ground strikes), round 1 (2:47)
Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic
Round 1: Gaziev got an early takedown, but Pericic was able to walk walk and get to his feet. After a long clinch, the referee separated them. Pericic then landed some massive shots that had Gaziev bloodied and hurt. Gaziev tied up Pericic and put him on the fence again. The referee didn’t like Gaziev holding the top of the fence and he broke them up again. Pericic teed off again, but Gaziev responded and hurt him! Pericic came back, though and landed more hard shots. It’s amazing they both lasted the whole five minutes after that.
Round 2: More massive exchanges in this round. Gaziev landed big single shots that stunned Pericic. And Periric blitzed and landed combos that hurt Gaziev. Both men grew tired from throwing and taking damage, but were still being aggressive. Pericic had more energy in the bank and he was able to come forwards and land the shot he needed to finally put Gaziev down.
Official decision: Brando Pericic def. Shamil Gaziev by KO (punch), round 2 (3:44)
Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland
Round 1: Sutherland went for takedowns in the first round. His first attempts put him in guillotine trouble and then a Tuivasa sprawl led to him being on bottom. However, Sutherland was able to sweep and then spend a lot of time on top. That, plus a spinning elbow he landed early, claimed the round for him.
Round 2: Sutherland got the early takedown in this round and was able to stay on top for almost five minutes. Not fun, but very effective.
Round 3: Tuivasa couldn’t summon up the KO blow that the crowd were desperate for in the third. Sutherland was able to ground him early and hang out on top to earn the very dull decision and hand Tuivasa his seventh straight loss. Tuivasa also has a point deducted for an illegal knee.
Official decision: Louie Sutherland def. Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek: Total domination. Rowston was too big, too long, too strong for Bryczek. He hurt him on the feet, but spent most of the fight in top position battering Bryczek with ground and pound. He further shows that he’s a very serious prospect in this division.
Official decision: Cam Rowston def. Robert Bryczek by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian: Tafa stalked Christian winging right overhands. Christian did his best to evade them and actually hurt Tafa with his leg kicks. But Christian eventually ran out of room and was clocked by Tafa. Tafa then pushed him down and landed some big ground and pound to put Christian out.
Official decision: Junior Tafa def. Kevin Christian by KO (ground elbows), round 1 (2:42)
Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert: Meerschaert took the first round after pulling Malkoun down into a guillotine choke. Almost all that round was spent with Malkoun trying to navigate his way out of that. In the third Malkoun was able to box Meerschaert up a bit, but he spent far too much time on the ground with Meerschaert than he had to. In the third, Malkoun was able to keep it standing for most the round, but got his neck stuck in another guillotine in the final minute.
Official decision: Jacob Malkoun def. Gerald Meerschaert by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Colby Thicknesse vs. Vince Morales: Thicknesse was all over Morales in the first round, getting deep on triangle and armbar attacks. The crafty veteran was able to survive that, though. The second round as mostly standing and it was very close, but I had Thicknesse just doing enough to win it. In the third, Morales wobbled Thicknesse with a couple of right hooks and then had him in trouble on the ground. Thicknesse would make it to the last bell, though (and win the fight on my scorecard).
Official decision: Colby Thicknesse def. Vince Morales by unanimous decision (29-28. 29-28. 29-28)
Ben Johnston vs. Wes Schultz: That was a wild, rather sloppy, but entertaining affair. Schultz tried to make this a ground battle and Johnston obliged. He stuffed Schultz’s takedowns early and parlayed that into lots of top control time. Schultz got deep on some submission attempts, but Johnston was able to weather them in the first two rounds. Then, in the third, Schultz came out in desperation mode. He swung for the fences, half landed and then went for submissions again. He didn’t get his first attempt, but he eventually managed to get enough squeeze for the finish.
Official decision: Wes Schultz def. Ben Johnston by submission (guillotine), round 3 (1:15)
Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo: Micallef and Gorimbo wrestled for most of this fight. Micallef had the best of that in round one, grounding Gorimbo and keeping him there. Gorimbo responded in the second round, though. In the third both men had their moments in the wrestling, but Micallef mixed in the better striking — landing heavy shots with his punches and kicks. That earned him the all important third round.
Official decision: Jonathan Micallef def. Themba Gorimbo by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Don Mar Fan vs. Kody Steele: Steele, having lost his first two fights due to getting into brawls, decided to grapple in this fight. That proved very smart strategy. He got an early takedown and forced Fan to roll with him. Fan looked like on the ground and was able to get a sweep, but Steele switched to hunting leg locks and would eventually get the tap with a heel hook.
Official decision: Kody Steele def. Don Mar Fan by submission (heel hook), round 1 (3:53)
Live stream begins at 4 a.m. ET. …
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