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 Perth Preview
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).
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.
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!
UFC PERTH QUICK RESULTS
Main card
- 170 lbs.: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates
- 155 lbs.: Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
- 125 lbs.: Tim Elliott vs. Steve Erceg
- 145 lbs.: Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid
- 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 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)
UFC PERTH PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
Prelims
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. …