A comprehensive fight calendar has been released covering the first three weeks of May 2026, featuring multiple UFC, PFL, ACA, and boxing events. Key UFC events include UFC Perth on May 2 with Maddalena vs Prates and Dariush vs Salkilld, and UFC 328 on May 9 headlined by Chimaev vs Strickland with Volkov vs Acosta on the card. PFL Sioux Falls on May 2 features Storley vs Zendeli and Raabadanov vs Chizhov. ACA 203 on May 8 includes Gaforov vs Akopyan. Major boxing matches include Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani on May 2 in Tokyo, David Benavidez vs Gilberto Ramirez on May 2 in Las Vegas, and Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester. MVP MMA on May 16 features Rousey vs Carano, Ngannou vs Lins, and Mokaev vs Moraes.
The first three weeks of May 2026 are shaping up to be one of the busiest stretches on the combat sports calendar, with UFC, PFL, ACA, and major boxing events packed across multiple weekends.
The opening weekend on May 2 alone features four significant cards. UFC Perth kicks off with a welterweight clash between Giacomo Maddalena and Nicolas Dalby Prates, plus a lightweight contest between Beneil Dariush and Cameron Salkilld. On the same night in Tokyo, unbeaten pound-for-pound boxing star Naoya Inoue defends against fellow Japanese fighter Junto Nakatani, while Las Vegas hosts David Benavidez against Gilberto Ramirez in a high-stakes cruiserweight showdown. PFL Sioux Falls also runs on May 2, headlined by a welterweight bout between Lance Storley and Marius Zendeli, alongside a lightweight matchup between Raabadanov and Chizhov.
UFC 328 on May 9 carries the biggest UFC billing of the stretch. Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old American middleweight champion fighting out of Xtreme Couture, puts his title on the line against Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland carries a 31-7 record and is one of the division's most relentless pressure fighters, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. Also on that card, heavyweight Alexander Volkov meets Alexandr Acosta. May 9 in Manchester brings a heavyweight boxing collision between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois.
ACA 203 fills the May 8 slot with Gaforov against Akopyan topping the bill.
The third weekend centers on MVP MMA on May 16, which carries a headline-grabbing lineup including Rousey vs Carano, Francis Ngannou vs Rodrigo Lins, and Muhammad Mokaev vs Marcelo Moraes.
Why it matters
- UFC 328's middleweight title fight between Chimaev and Strickland is the premier MMA event of the period
- The May 2 boxing double-header in Tokyo and Las Vegas gives fight fans competing must-watch events on the same night
- MVP MMA's May 16 card adds a high-profile crossover element with its marquee matchups
- The condensed schedule leaves little room for casual fans to follow every card across the three-week run
