Shamil Gaziev will fight Brando Pericic at UFC Perth in a heavyweight bout. Gaziev weighed in at 119.75 kg while Pericic came in slightly heavier at 120.2 kg. The announcement came through official UFC Eurasia sources. No further information about the timing or position on the card was disclosed. Both fighters are competing in the heavyweight division based on their weigh-in numbers.
The UFC has officially booked a heavyweight clash between Shamil Gaziev and Brando Pericic for UFC Perth, with both fighters having already made weight ahead of the bout.
Gaziev, who trains out of KHK MMA and competes under the Bahraini flag, enters the fight ranked 11th in the heavyweight division with a professional record of 14-3-0. The 36-year-old stands six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach and brings a measured, all-around game to the cage, averaging 2.62 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, while also mixing in nearly one takedown attempt per 15 minutes.
Pericic, nicknamed "The Balkan Bear," is the younger man at 31 and arrives with an impressive 7-1-0 record. Standing six-foot-five with a 79-inch reach, the orthodox striker is a fraction taller and longer than his opponent. His statistical profile is striking in every sense — he lands 12.91 significant strikes per minute at an eye-catching 64 percent accuracy rate, suggesting he does his best work in short, explosive bursts. He has yet to attempt a takedown in his UFC career based on available data.
Why it matters
- Gaziev is ranked 11th at heavyweight, meaning a strong performance could push him toward the top ten in a division currently in flux.
- Pericic's unorthodox striking volume numbers make him a dangerous and unpredictable stylistic test for a more well-rounded opponent.
- Both men weighed in at virtually the same mark — Gaziev at 119.75 kg and Pericic at 120.2 kg — confirming the fight is set at standard heavyweight limits.
- The card placement has not yet been disclosed by the UFC.
