Perth set for historic UFC Fight Night

• Highly anticipated UFC Fight Night arrives in Perth this week featuring homegrown hero Jack Della Maddalena
• Public fan events including Ceremonial Weigh-In and Open Workouts to add vibrancy to the city in lead-up to Saturday night's event
• Part of the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy to generate valuable tourism dollars for local businesses and support local jobs

Perth is ready for action this Saturday as homegrown legend Jack Della Maddalena faces Brazil's Carlos "The Nightmare" Prates at UFC Fight Night, delivered by the Cook Labor Government.

Held at RAC Arena, UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DELLA MADDALENA vs. PRATESmarks the first time in Australian history that a Fight Night has been staged on a Saturday evening.

The event will feature two of UFC's top powerhouse prospects, along with a line-up of strong Western Australian talent, with thousands of out-of-state visitors expected to travel to Western Australia for the event.

Supported through Tourism WA, fans will have the opportunity to get close to all the action in the lead-up to the Fight Night at a range of free fan events, including:

• Open Workouts at Perth Town Hall from 5pm on Wednesday, 29 April;
• Press Conference at RAC Arena from 5pm on Thursday, 30 April; and,
• Guest athlete Q&A and Ceremonial Weigh-In at RAC Arena from 6pm on Friday, 1 May.

With more than 700 million UFC fans worldwide, Perth's 2026 Fight Night event will deliver unparalleled international exposure for Western Australia and will be broadcast to over 950 million households across more than 210 countries and territories.

The main card will also feature high-profile match ups including:

• Western Australian Quillan Salkilld and Beneil Dariush in a lightweight bout;
• Western Australian Steve Erceg and Tim Elliott in a flyweight bout;
• Brando Peričić and Shamil Gaziev in a heavyweight bout;
• Tai Tuivasa and Sean Sharaf in a heavyweight bout; and
• Junior Tafa and Kevin Christian in a light heavyweight bout.

Hosting a UFC Fight Night in Perth in 2026 further strengthens Western Australia's momentum as the fastest-growing events destination in the South East Asia region, following the success of Perth's UFC Fight Night in September 2025 and building on the record breaking UFC 284 in February 2023 and UFC 305 in August 2024 - events that attracted thousands of visitors to the State.

Supporting UFC FIGHT NIGHT: DELLA MADDALENA vs. PRATES aligns with the Cook Labor Government's strategy to diversify the economy by attracting major international events, increasing out-of-state visitation, and strengthening local jobs, businesses, and the tourism industry.

UFC is required to meet permit conditions under the Combat Sport Act 2004 administered by the Combat Sports Commission.

Fans can see the fight card and secure final tickets at ufc.com/Perth

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:

"Perth's 2026 UFC Fight Night is set to be epic - not only is the headline bout taking place on a Saturday night, but the card also features three Western Australian homegrown heroes, with Jack Della Maddalena, Quillan Salkilld, and Steve Erceg stepping into the octagon in front of a passionate crowd of local supporters and visiting fans.

"The excitement around this event has been fantastic, with a range of free fan experiences on offer for everyone to enjoy. We continue to see strong results for Western Australia whenever UFC comes to Perth, boosting our tourism sector and supporting local jobs and businesses.

"Major events remain a key pillar of the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy, delivering significant benefits as thousands of visitors travel to our State and inject millions of dollars into the economy."

Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Western Australia is gearing up to host another world-class UFC event.

"Saturday's fight will be broadcast to millions of fans, showcasing Western Australia to audiences around the world.

"With hometown favourite Jack Della Maddalena headlining the card, local fans will see one of our own compete at the highest level, right here in Perth.

"By investing in major events like the UFC, we're creating an events calendar that attracts visitors year-round, supports local jobs, and delivers long-term benefits for Western Australians."