The upcoming UFC Fight Night in Perth is headlined by a high-octane welterweight clash between former champion Jack Della Maddalena and the explosive Carlos Prates.

While the main event features Della Maddalena returning to home soil, much of the night’s intrigue surrounds the high-stakes lightweight co-main event as ranked veteran Beneil Dariush enters hostile territory to face the rising Perth star Quillan Salkilld.

For Dariush, this fight is about finding stability after a turbulent 2025, yet despite the pressure of facing a surging prospect in front of a partisan crowd, he remains remarkably stoic.

“Not a whole lot for me changes. I just focus on what I do best and focus on implementing my game plan. I don’t care who the name is or what they represent or where they come from. My goal is to win. And in order to do that, I have to be focused on my skills and not on the mystery or the mystique of the fighter,” Dariush told Sportstar ahead of the fight.

Salkilld presents a unique puzzle compared to recent opponents, shifting the technical requirements of the camp. Unlike the striking-heavy threats Dariush has navigated lately, the Australian is a dangerous all-rounder, forcing a more holistic approach to training.

“Training for Quillan is a little bit more difficult, I would say, because you have to train all aspects. He’s a well-rounded fighter and and I have to be ready for more grappling while Manuel was more focused on um striking,” Dariush said.

While critics often point to recent setbacks as a sign of decline, Dariush refuses to engage with the narrative of his ranking or his past results, choosing instead to anchor himself in the immediate task at hand. “I don’t know. I don’t care. I’m here to win. I don’t look at numbers. I don’t look at the past. I’m focused on the present,” he said.

UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs Prates – Full fight card

Main Event (Welterweight): Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates

Co-Main Event (Lightweight): Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld

Flyweight: Steve Erceg vs. Tim Elliott

Featherweight: Marwan Rahiki vs. Ollie Schmid

Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev vs. Brando Pericic

Heavyweight: Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland

Streaming information: Watch UFC Fight Night – Della Maddalena vs Prates on 2nd May 2026 from 4:30 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, Sony Sports Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu & Kannada).

Published on May 01, 2026