All fighters for UFC Perth successfully made weight except Gerald Meerschaert, who came in at 86.18 kg for his middleweight bout against Jacob Malkoun. Meerschaert will be fined 30% of his purse, which goes to his opponent. The main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates will proceed as planned, with both fighters weighing in at 77.11 kg. Co-main event fighters Beneil Dariush and Quillan Salkilld both made 70.76 kg. The full weigh-in results for the main card and preliminaries were published, with all other fighters successfully hitting their contracted weights. The event takes place on May 3, 2026.
Gerald Meerschaert came in overweight ahead of his middleweight contest at UFC Perth, casting a shadow over his scheduled bout with Jacob Malkoun on May 3, 2026. Meerschaert tipped the scales at 86.18 kg, exceeding the middleweight limit, and will forfeit 30 percent of his purse as a penalty, with those funds going directly to Malkoun. The fight will still proceed.
The main event between welterweights Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates had no such issues, with both men checking in at 77.11 kg. The co-main event also went smoothly, as Beneil Dariush and Quillan Salkilld both weighed 70.76 kg at the lightweight limit.
Dariush, ranked eighth at lightweight, brings a 23-8-1 record into the bout. The 37-year-old American southpaw out of Kings MMA averages 3.78 significant strikes per minute and 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, offering a well-rounded threat.
His opponent, Salkilld, holds the 15th spot in the lightweight rankings with a 12-1-0 record. The 26-year-old Australian fights out of Luistro Combat Academy and brings striking volume to the table, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate. His takedown output is particularly striking, averaging 7.95 per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Meerschaert's weight miss shifts financial momentum toward Malkoun before the fight even begins
- Dariush versus Salkilld carries lightweight rankings implications, with the eighth-ranked veteran facing a hungry contender climbing the ladder
- Salkilld's elite takedown rate against Dariush's well-rounded game sets up a sharp stylistic contrast in the co-main event
- All other fighters on the card made weight, keeping the remainder of the event intact
