The UFC has released its event schedule for the first three weeks of May, featuring three cards. UFC Perth takes place May 2 in Australia, headlined by Prates vs Maddalena, with prelims starting at 11:00 MSK and the main card at 14:00. UFC 328 is set for May 9 in the United States, featuring two title fights: Chimaev vs Strickland and Yan vs Taira, with Volkov vs Acosta also on the card; prelims begin at 00:00 MSK and the main card at 04:00. UFC Vegas 117 rounds out the schedule on May 16, headlined by Allen vs Costa, with prelims at 00:00 MSK and the main card at 03:00. The schedule includes fighters from multiple weight classes and features both championship and non-title bouts.
The UFC has mapped out a busy opening stretch of May, confirming three events across consecutive weekends that span multiple weight classes and include a pair of world title fights.
The run begins on May 2 with UFC Perth in Australia, where Nicolas Prates and Jack Maddalena headline the card. Prelims get underway at 11:00 MSK, with the main card following at 14:00.
A week later, UFC 328 lands in the United States on May 9 and carries the heaviest title weight of the three events. Khamzat Chimaev challenges Sean Strickland for the middleweight championship in the headliner. Strickland, 35, is 31-7 and holds the belt. The champion out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. A flyweight title bout between Merab Dvalishvili and Tatsuro Taira — listed in the summary as Yan vs Taira — also features on the card, as does a heavyweight matchup between Alexander Volkov and Raul Acosta. Volkov, ranked first in the heavyweight division at 37 years old, carries a 40-11 record for Russia's Strela Team. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, he posts a striking accuracy of 57 percent, among the highest in his weight class.
The three-week stretch closes on May 16 with UFC Vegas 117, headlined by a featherweight bout between Arnold Allen and Paulo Costa. Allen, ranked fifth at 145 pounds, is 21-4 out of England and trains at Tristar Gym. The 32-year-old southpaw lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute and averages 1.24 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
Why it matters
- UFC 328 delivers two title fights on the same card, with the middleweight and flyweight belts both on the line
- Volkov, the top-ranked heavyweight contender, could push closer to a title shot with a win on May 9
- Allen and Costa represent a compelling featherweight contest between a ranked contender and a high-profile name crossing divisions
