The UFC has confirmed its schedule for early May 2026, featuring three events. UFC Perth takes place on May 2 with Prates vs. Maddalena headlining and notable bouts including Tsarukyan vs. Dariush and Tuivasa vs. Sutherland. UFC 328 on May 9 features two title fights: Chimaev vs. Strickland and Yan vs. Taira, with Volkov vs. Acosta also on the card. UFC Vegas 117 on May 16 is headlined by Allen vs. Costa. The events will be broadcast at various times starting from 11:00 AM Moscow time for the Perth card. Early prelims for the U.S. events begin at midnight Moscow time with main cards starting between 3:00 and 4:00 AM.
The UFC has locked in a busy stretch of early May 2026, announcing three events spread across consecutive weekends that span three continents and include a pair of world title fights.
The run opens on May 2 with UFC Perth, headlined by Prates versus Maddalena. The card also features a lightweight clash between Arman Tsarukyan and Beneil Dariush, as well as a heavyweight contest between Tai Tuivasa and Sergei Sutherland. The Perth event gets underway earliest for international viewers, with the card beginning at 11:00 AM Moscow time.
One week later, UFC 328 on May 9 serves as the marquee event of the stretch with two championship bouts. In the middleweight division, reigning champion Sean Strickland defends his title against Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, a 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the sport's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Also on UFC 328, Merab Dvalishvili defends against Tatsuro Taira in a bantamweight title fight, and Alexander Volkov meets Acosta in a heavyweight co-feature. Early prelims for the U.S. events begin at midnight Moscow time, with main cards starting between 3:00 and 4:00 AM.
The three-week run closes on May 16 with UFC Vegas 117, headlined by a middleweight bout between Brendan Allen and Paulo Costa.
Why it matters
- UFC 328 features two title fights on the same card, making it the most significant event of the stretch
- Strickland versus Chimaev is a high-profile middleweight title defense with championship implications across the 185-pound division
- The Allen versus Costa headliner at UFC Vegas 117 adds further middleweight activity, giving the division three prominent bouts across the three events
- UFC Perth continues the promotion's commitment to live events in Australia, giving the Asia-Pacific region a primary card built around notable lightweight and heavyweight matchups
