Jack Della Maddalena (-102) VS Carlos Prates (-120)
UFC Perth – Della Maddalena vs Prates Picks and Predictions are here 🔥 The wait is finally over for Australian fight fans as the Octagon returns to Western Australia for UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the RAC Arena in Perth will host a collision between two of the most clinical strikers in the welterweight division
At UFC Perth, former champion Jack Della Maddalena is set to collide with the knockout machine Carlos Prates. Maddalena is coming off his first promotional defeat, a grueling five-round decision loss to Islam Makhachev and is now looking to reclaim his former glory on home soil. Meanwhile, Prates enters the Octagon with a perfect promotional record, boasting six knockouts in as many appearances, and he has made it clear he is headhunting for Maddalena. A victory here would serve as a massive statement for Prates, putting him within touching distance of a title shot.
This matchup is expected to be a pure stand-up war; with both fighters being elite specialists, the canvas will likely see very little wrestling. The central question is whose striking will prove more clinical. During media day, Prates reaffirmed his singular objective: to put Maddalena away. However, finding the chin of the Australian won’t be easy. Maddalena possesses high-level boxing and a defensive striking rate of 63%.
That said, Prates has proven he doesn’t need high volume to find a finish. In his last outing, he did the unthinkable by knocking out Leon Edwards. A fighter who had never been stopped in that fashion. When analyzing their respective trajectories and overall efficiency in the Octagon, Prates appears to be the more convincing force. I predict Prates will secure the knockout victory in Perth, effectively punching his ticket to a welterweight title fight.
Final Picks and Predictions : Carlos Prates
Beneil Dariush (+340) VS Quillan Salkilld (-455)
The veteran Beneil Dariush is set to test the surging prospect, Jack Salchild. While Salchild enters this matchup as a heavy favorite, which is understandable given recent momentum. the betting lines may be overlooking the veteran; arguably, no one should be that wide of a favorite against a fighter of Dariush’s caliber. Beneil is incredibly experienced and remains an elite-level grappler.
I don’t believe Salchild will be able to outwork or overpower Dariush in the wrestling and grappling departments. Instead, Salchild’s path to victory lies on the feet. Neither fighter is known for high-volume striking, yet both possess the ability to inflict serious damage standing up thanks to their unique striking styles.
It is worth noting that Michael Chiesa is the only man to have ever submitted Dariush. Mateusz Gamrot attempted to out-wrestle him and secured four takedowns, yet still couldn’t walk away with the win. Salchild needs to analyze these tapes and keep this fight standing, where the younger fighter likely holds the advantage. I expect Salchild to dictate the pace on the feet, waiting for the perfect window to land a power shot. Given that Dariush has shown vulnerability to strikes in his recent outings, Salchild will likely look to exploit that opening.
Final Picks and Predictions : Quillan Salkilld
Tim Elliott (+195) VS Steve Erceg (-244)
At 39 years old, Tim Elliott is set to make his 25th UFC appearance against the 30-year-old Steve Erceg. Despite his veteran status, Elliott recently silenced the doubters by defeating the heavy favorite Kai Asakura, proving he remains a force to be reckoned with.
This matchup is incredibly difficult to predict, as both fighters are highly versatile and well-rounded. Elliott is currently in phenomenal form, while Erceg recently snapped a three-fight losing skid with a victory over Ode Osbourne. Although Erceg won two out of three rounds in that bout to regain his confidence, he did drop a round to Osbourne. A performance that leaves some questions regarding his true ceiling at this stage of his career.
Erceg holds a significant youth advantage, and with Elliott nearing 40, a physical decline could manifest at any moment. Furthermore, Erceg will enjoy the home-turf advantage in Australia. However, based strictly on recent data and momentum, Elliott appears to be the rightful favorite.
Stylistically, Erceg will look to keep the fight standing, while Elliott’s game plan will undoubtedly revolve around initiating grappling sequences and securing takedowns. While Erceg is difficult to ground, he is far from immovable. Taking into account their recent performances and stylistic tendencies, I am leaning toward a Tim Elliott victory. That said, for those who believe age and the Australian home crowd will be the deciding factors, Erceg remains a very live underdog.
Final Picks and Predictions : Steve Erceg
Shamil Gaziev (+117) VS Brando Pericic (-143)
Brando Pericic faces the first true litmus test of his career as he squares off against Shamil Gaziev. Representing the renowned City Kickboxing, Pericic enters this bout amidst a wave of momentum for the gym. Following Carlos Ulberg’s recent success, the energy at CKB is undoubtedly at an all-time high; in elite camps like these, such victories tend to fuel the motivation of every fighter on the roster.
On the other side of the Octagon, Shamil Gaziev enters with significant questions surrounding his durability and mental fortitude. Gaziev is coming off a devastating first-round knockout loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta, which followed a TKO defeat to Jairzinho Rozenstruik where he effectively bowed out after the fourth round.
While Gaziev’s early record looked promising, his wins came against lower-tier opposition, and he has failed to deliver whenever the level of competition has risen. Given Gaziev’s recent struggles when facing adversity, I don’t believe he represents an insurmountable hurdle for Pericic. I expect the City Kickboxing prospect to pass this test convincingly and continue his ascent in the division.
Final Picks and Predictions : Â Brando Pericic
Tai Tuivasa (-222) VS Louie Sutherland (+180)
Following his war with Ciryl Gane, few could have predicted that Tai Tuivasa would succumb to a devastating six-fight losing streak. However, we saw flashes of progress in his last outing, where he managed to go the full three rounds against Talisson Teixeira, coming agonizingly close to snapping that skid.
For his homecoming in Australia, he has been matched against Lou Sutherland—a fighter who has dropped both of his promotional appearances via first-round finish. On paper, this feels like a “get-right” fight tailored specifically for Tuivasa. From a tactical standpoint, there isn’t much complexity to dissect here; the matchmaking seems designed to get the fan favorite back into the win column. The outcome rests entirely in Tuivasa’s hands, and I expect him to finally break his winless drought against Sutherland in emphatic fashion.
