The UFC has released its event schedule for the first three weeks of May 2026. UFC Perth takes place on May 2nd featuring Prates vs Maddalena as the main event, with Salikhov vs Dariush and Elliott vs Erceg also on the card. UFC 328 on May 9th will feature two title fights: Chimaev vs Strickland and Yan vs Taira, with Volkov vs Acosta and Brady vs Buckley rounding out the main card. UFC Vegas 117 closes the stretch on May 16th, headlined by Allen vs Costa, with additional bouts including Du Ho Choi vs Santos and Bukauskas vs Bellato. Specific start times for prelims and main cards were provided in Moscow Standard Time.
The UFC has mapped out a busy start to May 2026, announcing three events across consecutive weekends that include two championship bouts and a string of high-profile matchups across multiple divisions.
The run opens on May 2nd with UFC Perth, where Rafael Prates meets Johnny Maddalena in the main event. Muslim Salikhov versus Beneil Dariush and Ryan Elliott versus Casey Erceg are also featured on that card.
One week later, UFC 328 on May 9th carries the heaviest title weight of the stretch. Khamzat Chimaev challenges middleweight champion Sean Strickland in one title fight, while Kyoji Taira's opponent Yan headlines the second. Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and has established himself as one of the division's most active strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Alexander Volkov also appears on that card against Acosta. The 37-year-old Russian heavyweight, ranked number one in his division, stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and lands significant strikes at a 57 percent accuracy rate across a 40-11-0 career. Brady versus Buckley rounds out the UFC 328 main card.
UFC Vegas 117 closes the three-week stretch on May 16th with a middleweight clash between Arnold Allen and Paulo Costa headlining. Costa, ranked 13th at middleweight, carries a 16-4-0 record and generates significant output at 6.26 strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Du Ho Choi versus Santos and Bukauskas versus Bellato are also scheduled for that card.
Why it matters
- UFC 328 features two title fights in a single night, raising the stakes considerably for the May 9th card
- Volkov's placement against Acosta at heavyweight keeps the number-one-ranked contender active and in the divisional picture
- Costa's return at Vegas 117 has implications for the middleweight rankings given the title fight happening the week prior
