The UFC schedule for the first three weeks of May has been released. UFC Perth takes place on May 2, headlined by Prates vs Maddalena, with other featured bouts including Salkilld vs Dariush, Elliott vs Erceg, Gaziev vs Pericic, and Tuivasa vs Sutherland. UFC 328 follows on May 9, featuring two title fights: Chimaev vs Strickland and Yan vs Taira, along with Volkov vs Acosta, Brady vs Buckley, and Green vs Stevens. UFC Vegas 117 is scheduled for May 16, headlined by Allen vs Costa, with additional matchups including Du Ho Choi vs Santos, Bukauskus vs Bellato, Wellmaker vs Diaz, and Veretennikov vs Williams.
The UFC has laid out its schedule for the first three weeks of May 2026, announcing three separate events headlined by a pair of title fights and several high-profile matchups across multiple divisions.
The run begins on May 2 with UFC Perth, topped by Prates vs Maddalena. The card also features Salkilld vs Dariush, Elliott vs Erceg, Gaziev vs Pericic, and Tuivasa vs Sutherland.
UFC 328 lands on May 9 and carries the most title implications of the three events. Khamzat Chimaev challenges Sean Strickland for the middleweight championship in what shapes up as the night's marquee contest. Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7-0 record and brings relentless pressure to every fight, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. The orthodox striker from the United States stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The same card hosts a second title fight between Merab Dvalishvili and Tatsuro Taira, listed as Yan vs Taira in the announcement. Volkov vs Acosta, Brady vs Buckley, and Green vs Stevens round out UFC 328.
UFC Vegas 117 closes the three-week stretch on May 16, headlined by Allen vs Costa. The card also features Du Ho Choi vs Santos, Bukauskus vs Bellato, Wellmaker vs Diaz, and Veretennikov vs Williams. Nikolay Veretennikov, a 36-year-old orthodox fighter from Kazakhstan representing Kings MMA, carries a 14-8-0 record into the bout. He stands six-foot-one with a 74-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy of 56 percent. His opponent, Tim Williams, nicknamed The South Jersey Strangler, is 40 years old with a 15-5-0 record. The six-foot-two American owns a 76-inch reach and averages 1.81 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a persistent threat on the ground.
Why it matters
- UFC 328 features two championship bouts, giving it pay-per-view weight and significant divisional consequences
- Strickland's middleweight title defense against Chimaev is the most anticipated matchup of the three-week run
- UFC Perth and UFC Vegas 117 provide strong supporting slates with ranked fighters across multiple weight classes
