The Octagon heads back down under this weekend as a busy stretch of UFC events continues with UFC Fight Night 275 from the RAC Arena in Perth.
The main event is a pivotal five-round bout in the welterweight division as former UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena takes on Carlos Prates. Della Maddalena fights for the first time since dropping the welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November, and he’s eager to get back to a rematch. Prates comes into this fight on a two-fight win streak after knocking out former champion Leon Edwards in November.
In the co-main event, long-time lightweight contender Beneil Dariush looks to get back into the win column as he battles surging prospect Quillan Salkilld, winner of eleven straight fights, including four straight to start his UFC career.
Also on the main card is a battle between former flyweight title challengers as Tim Elliott takes on Steve Erceg; plus, a pair of heavyweight fights that sees Shamil Gaziev take on Brando Pericic, and fan favorite Tai Tuivasa looks to end a winless drought against Louie Sutherland.
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> Lightweights- Dom Mar Fan (9-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Kody Steele (7-1, 0-1 UFC)
Mar Fan with a front kick. He lands a leg kick. Steele scores a takedown and starts pressuring with his shoulder from the top. Steele lands some body shots from the top. Steele hunting for the crucifix position. Steele now looking for an arm-triangle choke. Mar Fan is able to sweep and reverse to the top. They scramble and Mar Fan remains on top. Steele forces a scramble as he attacks the leg. Mar Fan lands a few punches as Steele locks in a kneebar. It is on tight and Mar Fan taps! Steele picks up his first UFC win.
Fight Result- Kody Steele def. Dom Mar Fan by submission (heel hook) at 3:56 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Jonathan Micallef (9-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. Themba Gorimbo (14-6, 4-3 UFC)
Gorimbo with a high kick. They trade and Micallef lands a right hand. Micallef with a body kick and Gorimbo counters with a pair of kicks. Gorimbo throws a right hand and looks for a takedown against the fence. Micallef defends and they separate. Gorimbo lands a calf kick. Micallef with an inside leg kick. Gorimbo lands a right hand as Micallef comes forward. Micallef lands a left hand as Gorimbo lands a leg kick. Gorimbo lands a clean right hand in an exchange. Micallef lands a pair of left hands and they tie up. Micallef is pressing Gorimbo against the fence. Micallef with a knee. Gorimbo with a few knees but Micallef is able to sweep a leg and score a takedown. Micallef lands some shots from the top. Micallef keeps control as they get to their feet. Gorimbo escapes and Micallef lands a body kick and left hand. 10-9 Micallef.
Gorimbo lands a leg kick and Micallef pushes it against the fence. They both battle for the takedown against the fence. Gorimbo briefly gets it down and they battle for control as they stand. Micallef grabs the single leg and looks for a takedown but Gorimbo defends. They go to the mat and Gorimbo ends up on top. Micallef looks for a triangle choke from the bottom, but Gorimbo escapes and remains on top. Micallef pushes Gorimbo off with his feet, but Gorimbo gets right back on top. They battle for position as Gorimbo has the body triangle on but Micallef is able to turn in and is on top landing some punches. Gorimbo with an upkick. 10-9 Gorimbo, 19-19.
Micallef lands a high kick. They trade punches. Gorimbo lands a few leg kicks and Micallef lands a body kick. Gorimbo lands a right hand. Micallef throws but Gorimbo ducks under and gets a takedown, but Micallef forces it to the feet almost immediately. They separate and Micallef lands a body kick. Gorimbo lands a few punches. They trade leg kicks. Both land in close range. Micallef lands a quick combo. Gorimbo gets the leg and looks for a takedown but Micallef defends it. They break apart and Micallef lands a flurry including a pair of body kicks. Micallef landing with more volume late. Gorimbo lands an inside leg kick. Gorimbo lands a couple of punches and looks for a takedown. Micallef defends against the fence and lands a spinning back fist on the break. Micallef lands a body kick as Gorimbo lands a right hand. Micallef with a pair of kicks. Micallef lands late. 10-9 Micallef, 29-28 Micallef.
Fight Result- Jonathan Micallef def. Themba Gorimbo by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights- Ben Johnston (5-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Wes Schultz (8-3, 0-1 UFC)
Schultz immediately looks for a takedown, but it is Johnston who ends up scoring a takedown. Johnston with a big elbow from the top. Schultz looked for the neck but Johnston escaped and got in the full guard and lands from the top. Johnston lands more shots from the top. Schultz is able to force a scramble to the feet. Schultz looking for a takedown but Johnston ends up on top as they go to the mat. Johnston lands some from inside the guard. Schultz forces it up and Johnston lands a pair of knees. Schultz pulls guard and Johnston attacks the arm from the top. Johnston with more action from the top. 10-9 Johnston.
They tie up and Schultz lands a knee and gets on top on the mat. Schultz attacks for a guillotine choke but Johnston is able to get out. Schultz now looks for a D’Arce choke from the top. Johnston escapes and ends up on top. Johnston lands an elbow. They scramble up and back down and Schultz ends up in side control. Schultz tries to get the back but Johnston slips out and ends up on top. Schultz attacks the neck for a guillotine choke. Johnston escapes. Johnston lands a big shot from the top. Johnston with some short elbows from side control. Johnston ends the round on top. 10-9 Johnston, 20-18 Johnston.
Johnston gets a takedown and Schultz looks for a choke, but Johnston escapes and they get back on their feet. Both are landing and Johnston gets the body lock and Schultz just weasles out and goes to the ground. Johnston lands and gets on top. Schultz scrambles and looks for the guillotine choke again. Schultz has it locked in and Johnston taps! Schultz gets the finish out of nowhere.
Fight Result- Wes Schultz def. Ben Johnston by submission (guillotine choke) at 1:50 of Round 3
> Bantamweights- Colby Thicknesse (8-1, 1-1 UFC) vs. Vince Morales (16-10, 3-8 UFC)
Thicknesse lands a high kick and they trade punches. They both land leg kicks after Morales lands a few punches. Thicknesse with a body kick. They go to the mat as Thicknesse is attacking the neck for a guillotine choke, but he lets it go. They get to their feet and Thicknesse jumps on the back. Morales gets out and on top as they go the mat. Thicknesse attacks the arm and then locks in a triangle choke. Morales escapes the choke but Thicknesse has an armbar locked on. Thicknesse lets go and goes back for a triangle choke. Thicknesse landing elbows as Morales is trying to defend. Morales is able to escape and Thicknesse scrambles to side control. Thicknesse gets back control and is looking for a rear-naked choke. Morales escapes and sweeps to the top. 10-9 Thicknesse.
They trade inside the pocket. Morales lands a right hand after Thicknesse lands a leg kick. Morales with another right hand. Morales lands a counter right hand after Thicknesse throws. Thicknesse lands a leg kick. Morales with a leg kick. Thicknesse tries to grapple but Morales gets away. Thicknesse with a high kick. Thicknesse lands a few more kicks. Morales lands to the body. Thicknesse with a body kick followed by a spinning back elbow. Morales is controlling the Octagon and lands. Thicknesse looks for a takedown against the fence. Morales is able to break apart and Thicknesse lands a right hand. Thicknesse with a right hand. Morales lands a right hand. 10-9 Thicknesse, 20-18 Thicknesse.
Thicknesse with a pair of kicks and then he lands a high kick. Morales lands a right hand. They trade kicks. Thicknesse with a right hand. Morales lands a right hand. They trade and Morales lands a few shots. Morales with a knee. Thicknesse with a leg kick. Thicknesse tried a takedown but Morales keeps it up. Morales hurts Thicknesse with a pair of right hands and he is pressuring. Thicknesse is on shaky legs and circles away. Morales lands a right hand and Thicknesse shoots for a takedown. Morales defends and has the neck. Morales looks for a Peruvian neck tie but loses position. Morales ends up getting the back against the fence. They go the distance. 10-9 Morales, 29-28 Thicknesse.
Fight Result- Colby Thicknesse def. Vince Morales by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Middleweights*- Jacob Malkoun (9-3, 5-3 UFC) vs. Gerald Meerschaert (37-21, 12-13 UFC)
*Meerschaert missed weight by four pounds
Malkoun is pressuring early. Meerschaert lands a left hand to the body. Malkoun lands a combo and then a right hand. Malkoun gets the single leg and Meerschaert attacks the neck as they go to the mat. Meerschaert is able to get to the top. Meerschaert is controlling from the top with neck control. Malkoun gets Meerschaert inside his full guard and throws from the bottom. Meerschaert gets to the half-guard. Meerschaert throws from the top. Meerschaert lands a left hand. Meerschaert attacks the neck. 10-9 Meerschaert.
Malkoun lands a right hand. Malkoun works the jab and he is pressing forward. Malkoun with another right hand and he pushes Meerschaert away after a grappling attempt. Malkoun back working the jab. Meerschaert lands a left hand. Malkoun with a few jabs. They trade in close range. Meerschaert with a high kick. Malkoun lands a right hand. Meerschaert shoots for a takedown and ends up pulling guard. Malkoun with some left hands from the top. Malkoun stands and Meerschaert is ordered to his feet. Malkoun lands a combination. Meerschaert lands a left hand. 10-9 Malkoun, 19-19.
Malkoun lands a left hook. Meerschaert lands a jab. They trade in close range. Meerschaert lands a combination. Malkoun with a series of shots. Meerschaert with a left hand. Malkoun with a big right hand. He lands another right hand and Malkoun scores a takedown. He works from the top a little but loses position and they get to their feet. Meerschaert with a left hand. Malkoun gets a late takedown and Meerschaert grabs the neck. Malkoun defends the choke. 10-9 Malkoun, 29-28 Malkoun.
Fight Result- Jacob Malkoun def. Gerald Meerschaert by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Light Heavyweights- Junior Tafa (6-5, 2-5 UFC) vs. Kevin Christian (9-3, 0-1 UFC)
Christian lands a leg kick. Tafa just misses a left hook. Tafa lands a combination. Christian with a leg kick and Tafa reacts big and is limping. Christian lands another leg kick as Tafa connects with a right hand. Tafa with a right hand and he connects again and Christian backs up. Christian lands a leg kick as Tafa lands a right hand. Tafa connects with some shots and gets on top and starts throwing elbows from the top and Christian ends up going out cold! Nasty elbows from Tafa end it.
Fight Result- Junior Tafa def. Kevin Christian by knockout (elbows) at 2:42 of Round 1
> Middleweights- Cam Rowston (14-3, 2-0 UFC) vs. Robert Bryczek (18-6, 1-1 UFC)
Rowston with a leg kick and a right hand. Rowston with a front kick. Rowston lands a right hand. Rowston with more leg kicks as Bryczek is unable to land. Rowston lands and Bryczek lands a body shot and a leg kick. Bryczek lands a big combo to the body inside the pocket. Rowston goes for the takedown and gets Bryczek down. They get to their feet and Rowston lands a front kick. Rowston gets a takedown against the fence. Rowston lands from the top. Rowston with a solid right hand from the top. Bryczek kicks Rowston off and tries to stand, but Rowston stays on top and lands a big elbow. 10-9 Rowston.
Rowston lands a right hand. He lands again and Bryczek loses his mouth piece. Rowston looks for a takedown against the fence. He abandons it but lands a combo. Rowston with a leg kick. Rowston lands an elbow. Bryczek with a pair of leg kicks. Rowston lands a stiff jab followed by a combination. Rowston looks for a takedown and gets it. Rowston gets side control and lands. Rowston lands lots of shots from the top and has Bryczek in trouble. Rowston with more shots from the top. 10-9 Rowston, 20-18 Rowston.
Rowston landing more punches to get the third started. Rowston lands a high kick. Rowston with a combination ending with a knee before he scores a takedown. Rowston gets to side control and is in total control. Rowston gets back inside the guard of Bryczek and is landing a lot of punches. Rowston gets into side control before Bryczek gives up his back. Rowston lands from the back and ends up back on top and keeps landing. Bryczek throws some hammerfists from the bottom and looks for a leg. Rowston spins out and gets the mount and reigns down with punches until the horn sounds. 10-9 Rowston, 30-27 Rowston.
Fight Result- Cam Rowston def. Robert Bryczek by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAIN CARD | 7 AM ET | 4 AM PT
> Heavyweights- Tai Tuivasa (14-9, 8-9 UFC) vs. Louie Sutherland (10-5, 0-2 UFC)
Sutherland lands a leg kick. Sutherland shoots for a takedown and Tuivasa has the neck but lets go and they separate. Sutherland scores a takedown but Tuivasa butt scoots to the fence. Tuivasa uses the neck to get to his feet and they are tied up against the fence. Tuivasa lands a big elbow on the break. Sutherland lands a spinning elbow and a knee up the middle. Sutherland shoots for a takedown but Tuivasa defends and lands from the back. They scramble and Sutherland ends up in the mount. Sutherland controlling from the top but not a ton of action from the top. Sutherland with some shots from the top. 10-9 Sutherland.
Sutherland lands a leg kick. He lands another. Sutherland shoots for a takedown but Tuivasa defends and lands a knee as he has the neck. They are tied up against the fence. Sutherland gets Tuivasa down, but they get to their feet. Sutherland throws Tuivasa down to the ground. Sutherland in side control. There is nothing happening here. Sutherland gets the mount as he controls from the top. Sutherland looks for an arm-triangle choke. He abandons it and lands from the half-guard. They get to their feet and Tuivasa lands a pair of hammerfists, but Sutherland gets him back down. Sutherland controls from the back. 10-9 Sutherland, 20-18 Sutherland.
Tuivasa lands a right hand. Sutherland with a leg kick. Sutherland looks for a takedown and Tuivasa sprawls, but Sutherland trips him to the mat. Sutherland is in side control and lands short punches. Tuivasa attacks the neck from the bottom and lands a weird knee that may have been illegal. Sutherland back in side control and lands short elbows. Sutherland lands some punches. Sutherland gets the half-guard and lands some small punches. They are stood up by the referee. Sutherland grabs Tuivasa and pulls guard. Tuivasa gets the back and lands some punches. Sutherland reverses to side control. Tuivasa landed an illegal knee and lost a point late. 10-8 Sutherland, 30-26 Sutherland.
Fight Result- Louie Sutherland def. Tai Tuivasa by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
> Heavyweights- #14 Shamil Gaziev (14-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Brando Pericic (6-1, 2-0 UFC)
Pericic lands a pair of kicks before they have a heavy exchange against the feet. Gaziev lands a solid right hand and scores a takedown. Pericic works to his feet as Gaziev has back control. Gaziev with some knees to the back of Pericic’s legs. They are separated by the referee. Pericic lands a quick combination. Gaziev with a right hand. Pericic lands a flurry of right hands and it snaps Gaziev’s head back. Pericic lands to the body and some uppercuts. Pericic with big punches and Gaziev is backing up. Gaziev forces a clinch. Gaziev lands a knee. They are separated again. They trade big punches. Gaziev rocks Pericic with a combo. Pericic lands a right hand. They tie back up. 10-9 Pericic.
They start slugging away to start the round. Gaziev lands a jab and Pericic lands some leg kicks. They trade and both land body kicks. Pericic with a double jab. Gaziev lands a big combination. Pericic lands a big right hand. Pericic lands a big flurry that has Gaziev backing up. They trade in close range. Pericic lands a massive right hand. Pericic with a quick flurry and lands a knee as Gaziev pushes it against the fence. They are separated again. They trade punches and Pericic rocks Gaziev with a right hand. Pericic then drops Gaziev with a right hand and it is all over! What a fight!
Fight Result- Brando Pericic def. Shamil Gaziev by knockout (punch) at 3:44 of Round 2
> Featherweights- Marwan Rahiki (8-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. Ollie Schmid (4-2, 0-0 UFC)
They trade leg kicks and Rahiki lands a body kick. Rahiki with a high kick. Schmid just misses a big right hand. Rahiki lands a combo and a leg kick. Rahiki continues to land kicks. Schmid rushes in but eats a right hand from Rahiki. Rahiki drops Schmid with a left hand and finishes it off with some shots from the top! What a performance from Rahiki!
Fight Result- Marwan Rahiki def. Ollie Schmid by TKO (punches) at 2:47 of Round 1
> Flyweights- #11 Tim Elliott (21-13-1, 10-11 UFC) vs. #12 Steve Erceg (13-4, 4-3 UFC)
Elliott with front side kicks to start, though he’s not landing many of them. Elliott lands a body kick. Elliott looked for a jumping knee but Erceg lands a right hand. Elliott with a leg kick. Elliott with a quick combination. Elliott with a left hand. They trade punches. Elliott lands a combination. They trade inside the pocket. Elliott with a double left hand. Elliott clips Erceg with a left hand. Erceg lands as Elliott misses a left hand. Elliott clips Erceg with a left hand. They both land and Elliott gets a brief takedown, but they get up and separate. Erceg lands a high kick. Elliott scores a takedown. 10-9 Elliott.
Elliott mixing some kicks to start the second. Erceg lands a right hand. He lands another as Elliott lands a leg kick. Erceg lands a left hook and a jab. Erceg lands a left hand. Erceg with some jabs and Elliott lands a combination. Erceg with a right hand. Erceg lands a combination. Elliott scores a takedown and has the back as they stand. They separate and Erceg lands a left hook. Elliott lands a body kick then a leg kick. Erceg gets a takedown and has the back, but Elliott escapes to his feet. Elliott gets a takedown, but Erceg gets to his feet. Erceg lands a combination. He lands another combo. Elliott gets a takedown and they scramble. They get to their feet and Erceg lands several punches late. 10-9 Erceg, 19-19.
Erceg with two left hands and he lands a right hand. Erceg with a few jabs. Erceg lands a head kick and is landing with more volume. Erceg lands a right hand. Erceg lands a combo after Elliott defends a takedown attempt. They trade in close range. Erceg lands a combination and a right hand. They trade but Erceg is landing more and landing cleaner. Erceg with a right hand. Erceg lands a combination. Erceg lands and Elliott lands a counter left hand. Elliott shoots for a takedown but Erceg defends. Erceg lands some good punches. 10-9 Erceg, 29-28 Erceg.
Fight Result- Steve Erceg def. Tim Elliott by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- #12 Beneil Dariush (23-7-1, 16-7-1 UFC) vs. Quillan Salkilld (11-1, 4-0 UFC)
Dariush stuns Salkilld early with a punch and rushes in to score a takedown. Dariush working hard for the takedown against the fence. Salkilld is defending as Dariush has control of a leg. There isn’t much happening otherwise. They separate and both swing and land. Salkilld lands a right hand and Dariush goes down. Salkilld gets the back and is landing and it is stopped! Salkilld gets the big finish!
Fight Result- Quillan Salkilld def. Beneil Dariush by TKO (punches) at 3:29 of Round 1
> Welterweights- #1 Jack Della Maddalena (18-3, 8-1 UFC) vs. #5 Carlos Prates (23-7, 6-1 UFC)
Prates with a pair of leg kicks. Maddalena lands to the body. Maddalena lands a right hook. Maddalena works the jab and Prates lands a left hand. They trade leg kicks. They land leg kicks at the same time. Prates lands a left hand. Prates with a leg kick followed by a combo. Maddalena lands a leg kick. Prates with a heavy calf kick then a body kick. Maddalena rushes in and both land. Prates with a leg kick. Prates scores with a body kick. Prates with a combo and a knee. Prates lands a combination. Maddalena gets a takedown. Maddalena ends the round on top. 10-9 Prates.
Prates lands a body kick. Maddalena lands a counter left hand. Prates lands a left hand and is scoring with his punches. Maddalena gets a brief takedown and tries to take the back, but Prates shakes him off and they stand. Prates with an elbow, then a knee and two left hands. Prates with a stiff left hand. Maddalena lands an uppercut then a left hand. Maddalena looks for a takedown against the fence but Prates defends. They separate and Maddalena lands to the body and Prates lands a left hand. Prates lands a knee and then stuns Maddalena with a kick and is landing a flurry looking for a finish. Prates with a knee and Maddalena fires back with an uppercut. Prates with a heavy calf kick and Maddalena is limping. Prates with a big knee. Prates lands a left hand. Big elbow against the fence by Prates. Prates lands a leg kick and Maddalena goes to the mat. 10-9 Prates, 20-18 Prates.
Prates lands to start the third. Maddalena looks for a takedown but Prates defends. Prates lands a big leg kick and more shots and Maddalena covers up. Prates with a knee. Maddalena is cut open. Prates lands two left hands and another kick and Maddalena goes down. Maddalena gets up and Prates unleashes a lot of shots. Prates lands from the top and backs off to let Maddalena up. Prates with a combo ending with a knee. Prates lands an elbow. Prates with two leg kicks and Maddalena goes down. Prates lands more leg kicks then starts landing punches from the top. Prates with hammerfists and it is stopped! Big finish from Prates!
Fight Result- Carlos Prates def. Jack Della Maddalena by TKO (punches) at 3:17 of Round 3
