UFC announced a Fight Night event returning to Perth, Australia, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at RAC Arena, marking the first UFC event in Australia on a Saturday night. The main event features No.1 ranked welterweight Jack Della Maddalena against No.5 ranked Carlos Prates in a clash of top prospects. This bout pits Western Australia's homegrown star against the international powerhouse 'The Nightmare' Prates, promising fireworks in the competitive welterweight division. The matchup could propel the winner toward title contention amid ongoing divisional shakeups. Travel packages are on sale now via Sportsnet Holidays, with fans able to register at ufc.com/Perth for updates. Expect more bouts to be added soon.
The UFC has officially announced a Fight Night event in Perth, Australia, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at RAC Arena, with Jack Della Maddalena taking on Carlos "The Nightmare" Prates in the main event. The promotion confirmed this will mark the first UFC event held in Australia on a Saturday night.
Della Maddalena, 29, enters the bout ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, carrying an 18-4 record. The Perth native trains out of Scrappy MMA and is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. A switch-stance fighter standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he will have the full weight of a home crowd behind him at RAC Arena.
Prates, 32, arrives ranked fifth at welterweight with a 24-7 record representing Brazil out of Vale Top Team. The Brazilian switch-stance fighter stands six-foot-one and carries a 78-inch reach advantage, giving him a five-inch edge over Della Maddalena. Known for his finishing ability, "The Nightmare" connects at 55 percent striking accuracy and averages 3.77 significant strikes per minute, bringing a calculated, powerful output to complement his physical tools.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena holds the No. 4 ranking while Prates sits at No. 5, meaning the winner makes a direct push toward title contention in a shaken-up welterweight division.
- The reach disparity of five inches gives Prates a structural edge in the pocket, while Della Maddalena's higher striking volume could neutralize it.
- A Perth main event featuring a local headliner against a top-five opponent raises the stakes of what is already a historic night for Australian MMA fans.
Additional bouts for the card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
