UFC announced a Fight Night event returning to Perth, Australia, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at RAC Arena, marking the first Saturday night UFC event in Australian history. Local welterweight star and No.1 ranked **Jack Della Maddalena** will headline against No.5 ranked **Carlos Prates** in a clash of top division prospects. This matchup pits two powerhouse welterweights, boosting the division's depth with rising stars. It matters as it elevates Perth's status on the UFC calendar and gives Della Maddalena a high-profile homecoming fight. Expect ticket info and further bouts soon via ufc.com/Perth; fans can register interest now.
The UFC will return to Perth, Australia, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, with a Fight Night event at RAC Arena — a historic occasion that marks the first Saturday night UFC card ever held on Australian soil. Headlining the event is a welterweight showdown between hometown favorite Jack Della Maddalena and Brazilian striker Carlos "The Nightmare" Prates.
Della Maddalena, 29, carries an 18-4 record and is currently ranked fourth in the welterweight division, with a place at number 13 in the pound-for-pound standings. Fighting out of Scrappy MMA, the Perth native is a switch-stance striker who lands an impressive 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he brings relentless offensive output to a fight contested in front of his home crowd.
Prates, 32, enters with a 24-7 record and holds the fifth-ranked spot in the welterweight division. The Brazilian, who trains with Vale Top Team, is a switch-stance fighter standing six-foot-one with a notably long 78-inch reach and a striking accuracy of 55 percent. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute and has yet to attempt a submission in his UFC appearances, signaling a clear preference for finishing fights on the feet.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena and Prates sit fourth and fifth in the welterweight rankings, meaning the winner has a strong case for a title eliminator
- A switch-stance versus switch-stance striking matchup between two of the division's most dangerous finishers adds genuine intrigue to the contest
- The card elevates Perth as a major destination on the UFC global calendar, with the Saturday night slot raising its profile further
