The UFC has released its schedule for the first three weeks of May 2026. UFC Perth takes place May 2 at 11:00 MSK, headlined by Prates vs. Maddalena, with Salkilld vs. Dariush and Tuivasa vs. Sutherland also featured. UFC 328 follows on May 9 at midnight MSK with two title fights: Chimaev vs. Strickland and Yan vs. Taira, plus Volkov vs. Acosta. UFC Vegas 117 closes the stretch on May 16 at midnight MSK, headlined by Allen vs. Costa and featuring Du Ho Choi vs. Santos. All three events will showcase a mix of established stars and rising contenders across multiple divisions.
The UFC has mapped out a busy three-week stretch in May 2026, announcing events in Perth, Las Vegas, and a numbered pay-per-view card, covering multiple divisions and a pair of championship bouts.
The run opens on May 2 with UFC Perth, headlined by Prates versus Maddalena. Also on that card, ranked lightweight Beneil Dariush steps in against Nicolas Dalby substitute opponent Kyle Salkilld, and Tai Tuivasa meets Carlston Harris replacement Dustin Sutherland. Dariush, 37, carries a 23-8-1 record and sits eighth in the lightweight division. The American southpaw out of Kings MMA lands 3.78 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and adds a takedown threat, averaging 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
UFC 328 follows on May 9 and delivers two title fights. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland puts his belt on the line against Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, known as Tarzan, is 35 years old with a 31-7 record. The orthodox striker out of Xtreme Couture is one of the division's most active pressure fighters, posting 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he brings both volume and physicality. The second title fight on that card pits Merab Dvalishvili against Tatsuro Taira in a bantamweight championship matchup. Also featured, Alexander Volkov — ranked first among UFC heavyweights — faces Jhonys Acosta. The Russian, nicknamed Drago, is 37 with a massive 40-11 record. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, he lands strikes at 57 percent accuracy, among the better marks in his division.
The stretch closes May 16 with UFC Vegas 117, headlined by Arnold Allen versus Paulo Costa, with Du Ho Choi and Jhonatan Santos also on the card.
Why it matters
- Strickland's middleweight title defense against the unbeaten Chimaev is the highest-profile bout across all three events
- Volkov's number-one heavyweight ranking makes his bout with Acosta a potential title eliminator
- Dariush's placement at eighth in lightweight means a strong performance in Perth could reshape the top-ten picture
- The three-week run spans three separate markets, reflecting the UFC's aggressive 2026 scheduling pace
