The stage is set for an absolute thriller in Perth! The UFC's second Australian card of 2026 is locked in after official weigh-ins, and fight fans are in for a treat.
Headlining the event is former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena, returning to his home country for the first time since 2023. After losing his title in a one-sided decision to Islam Makhachev, the 29-year-old Scrappy MMA product is hungry for redemption. He'll face Brazil's Carlos Prates, a man on a mission after viciously knocking out another former champion, Leon Edwards, last year. Both warriors hit 170 pounds on the dot—no games here.
Prates (23-7) is stepping into the biggest fight of his career. With a 6-1 UFC record (his only loss to Ian Garry), "The Nightmare" is looking to spoil Della Maddalena's homecoming. Meanwhile, the former champ (who was 8-0 inside the Octagon before his setback, including a title win over Belal Muhammad) is eager to remind everyone why he once ruled the division.
The only hiccup? Middleweight Gerald Meerschaert came in four pounds heavy at 190 pounds. As a result, his opponent Jacob Malkoun will receive 30 percent of "GM3's" purse—a costly mistake for the veteran.
UFC Perth streams live on Paramount+ this Saturday. Prelims start at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT, with the main card kicking off at 7 a.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Whether you're gearing up for a watch party or just stocking your gym bag, this is one card you won't want to miss.
Full weigh-in results:
Jack Della Maddalena (170) vs. Carlos Prates (170)
Beneil Dariush (156) vs. Quillan Salkilld (156)
Tim Elliott (126) vs. Steve Erceg (125.5)
Marwan Rahiki (146) vs. Oliver Schmid (145.5)
Shamil Gaziev (264) vs. Brando Pericic (265)
Louie Sutherland (261) vs. Tai Tuivasa (265)
Robert Bryczek (186) vs. Cameron Rowston (185)
Kevin Christian (204) vs. Junior Tafa (205.5)
Jacob Malkoun (186) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (190)*
Vince Morales (136) vs. Colby Thicknesse (135)
Ben Johnston (185.5) vs. Wesley Schultz (186)
Themba Gorimbo (171) vs. Jonathan Micallef (170)
Dom Mar Fan (155.5) vs. Kody Steele (156)
*Meerschaert missed weight by 4 pounds and will forfeit 30% of his purse to Malkoun.