Pratts stops Della Maddalena at UFC Fight Night Perth

Perth, Australia — Carlos Prets Puts himself in contention for a shot at the UFC welterweight title after a devastating striking performance against the former champion Jacques della Maddalena.

Pratts (24-7) played spoiler in Della Maddalena’s hometown at UFC Fight Night Perth on Saturday night (AEST), earning a third-round stoppage on the back of a barrage of kicks, punches and elbows that took its toll on the Australian.

In the end, it was a brutal calf kick that sent Della Maddalena (18-4) crashing to the canvas, with the Brazilian moving quickly to secure a stoppage from referee Mike Beltran at 3:17 of the third round.

Pratts had earlier opened a cut above Della Maddalena’s right eye, which bled late in the second round, while the effects of Pratts’ body work were evident in both the Australian’s lower back and left leg.

While Della Maddalena dominated Rounds 2 and 3, he was largely in the contest in Round 1 with some accurate striking and late takedowns. But the longer the fight went on, the more clear it became that Pratts would walk home victorious — and could soon be on a collision course with the UFC welterweight champion. Islam Makhachevwho dethroned Della Maddalena at the top of the division last November.

Previously the Australian lightweight in the co-main event Quillan Salkild Underlined his status as one of the UFC’s rising stars with a first-round TKO win over the veteran American Benil Dariush.

Salkilde improved to 5-0 in the UFC and 12-1 overall when a thunderous right hook sent Dariush to the canvas, the Aussie followed it up with some follow-up ground and pound to earn the stoppage at 3:39 of the first round.

Dariush had previously applied some pressure up close, executing two takedowns to gain an early foothold in the fight. But once Salkild broke free, he quickly went to work on his striking and pummeled Dariush with a combination that made room for his brutal right hook.

A graduate of Dana White’s contender streak, Salkild has won four of his five UFC fights in Round 1. It was his second win of 2026. Jamie Mularkey Sydney in February.