The UFC schedule for the first three weeks of May has been announced, featuring three major events. UFC Perth on May 2 is headlined by Prates vs Maddilena, with Salkilld vs Dariush and Elliott vs Erceg also featured. UFC 328 on May 9 includes two title fights: Chimaev vs Strickland and Yan vs Taira, plus Volkov vs Acosta. UFC Vegas 117 on May 16 features Allen vs Costa as the main event, with Du Ho Choi vs Santos and Bukauskas vs Bellato on the card. The post provides specific Moscow start times for each event. This represents a packed schedule with significant fights across multiple divisions.
The UFC has unveiled a packed three-week stretch of cards for early May 2026, with events on consecutive Saturdays covering multiple title fights and high-stakes divisional matchups.
UFC Perth opens the run on May 2, headlined by Prates vs Maddilena, with Salkilld vs Dariush and Elliott vs Erceg also on the card. The Australian card sets the stage for what becomes an unusually loaded fortnight.
UFC 328 follows on May 9 and carries the most championship weight, featuring two title fights. Khamzat Chimaev takes on reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, whose 31-7-0 record and relentless volume — more than six significant strikes landed per minute — have made him one of the division's most durable and dangerous titleholders. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture brings a 76-inch reach and a grinding, pressure-heavy style to every fight. The second title contest on the card pits Merab Dvalishvili stablemate Umar Nurmagomedov challenger Tatsuro Taira against Petr Yan. Alexander Volkov vs Acosta also features on that card. Volkov, ranked first in the heavyweight division at 37 years old, carries a 40-11-0 record and an elite striking accuracy of 57 percent at six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach.
UFC Vegas 117 rounds out the stretch on May 16, with Arnold Allen headlining against Paulo Costa. Allen, ranked fifth at featherweight and fighting out of Tristar Gym, holds a 21-4-0 record. The 32-year-old Englishman averages 1.24 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute, offering a well-rounded skill set from his southpaw stance. Du Ho Choi vs Santos and Bukauskas vs Bellato are also slated for that card.
Why it matters
- Two title fights at UFC 328 give the middleweight and flyweight divisions major clarity
- Volkov's heavyweight clash and Allen's featherweight main event have significant rankings implications
- Three events in three weeks represents an unusually dense concentration of high-profile matchups across the sport
