The UFC 328 co-main event features a historic bout for the flyweight title. Champion Joshua Van (16-2) takes on Tatsuro Taira (18-1) in a championship bout between two Asian-born fighters.
The fight will be Van's first title defense. Taira will enter the match ranked No. 3 in the division and riding a two-fight winning streak.
UFC 328 takes place on May 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The event is headlined by a middleweight title bout between champion Khamzat Chimaev and former titleholder Sean Strickland.
Joe Rogan warns everyone not to count out Sean Strickland at UFC 328.
Strickland (30-7 MMA, 17-7 UFC) is a big underdog heading into his title fight against middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), which headlines Saturday's UFC 328 (Paramount+) event at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Strickland has not minced his words towards Chimaev, and even threatened to pull out his gun and shoot him if he gets jumped by him on fight week. Rogan thinks the war of words could play a factor into Chimaev's performance.
"Sean has talked so much sh*t," Rogan said on a recent episode of his "Joe Rogan Experience." "He's a wild dude, and that sh*t talking that he does, it's emotional warfare. ... It's like what Conor (McGregor) used to do. What Conor did with Jose Aldo, he had him so f*cked up before that fight. (Aldo) was just so emotional. Aldo was a legend.
"Nobody talked sh*t about (Aldo). Everybody was terrified of him, and Conor was just constantly talking sh*t about him, stole his belt at a press conference and was holding it up. By the time the fight happened, Aldo was just so worked up, and Conor was just super relaxed and smiling."
Trash talk aside, Rogan says Strickland has the style that could pose Chimaev problems.
"Strickland is one of the best fighters on planet Earth. So is Khamzat," Rogan continued. "But Strickland is also a legitimate world champion. He's a guy who's accustomed to five-rounders. He's got phenomenal cardio. He's one of the hardest guys to hit in the sport. One-hundred percent, he has a shot. (He has) underrated grappling. Listen to me as an expert, allegedly: He's got some of the best takedown defense in the game, underrated grappling. Strickland has a legit chance."
Harrison took umbrage with Rousey claiming that her comeback fight against Gina Carano on May 16 is the biggest in women's MMA. She called her irrelevant, which prompted Rousey to fire back.
Rousey and Harrison are both judoka Olympians – with Rousey winning bronze in 2008 and Harrison winning gold in 2012 and 2016. They competed against each other in two judo matches prior to the Olympics, with the much older Rousey winning both.
"Me and Kayla have a kind of complicated relationship in that she came to live in the same house I was and train with us," Rousey said on her YouTube channel. "She had been sexually abused by her coach for most of her life, starting at 8 to when it came out, and she was like 17. So she comes out (to live with us), and she's just been failed by every single adult in her life and been severely traumatized by some real f*cked up sh*t.
"So when she moved into the house, she was going through a straight-up mental health crisis. And I don't think anything that went down then ever deserves to be under public scrutiny. But when she was going through it, I unwillingly was going through it with her. So I wish her the absolute best in life and all of the success and all the things over there. I wish her the best. I just don't want to be involved."
Rousey has taken several shots at the UFC but explained why her upcoming fight against Carano, which streams on Netflix, is pivotal for Harrison and the women's MMA scene.
"She's coming and talking sh*t about me and Gina," Rousey said. "I'm like, 'Dude, we're doing nothing but help you. We've done nothing but help you.' I literally have, like, a vested interest in developing the heavier divisions. She says she can't make weight in her division anymore. It's taken years off of her life, all this stuff. Help me help you. Who do you think would promote you at 145? F*cking me. Who do you think would help you get paid? F*cking me. Who do you think is helping you get paid more in the UFC now because you have someone to give you a competing offer?
"I'm trying to feed you. Stop biting my f*cking hand. I'm trying to help you out, man. But she's kind of like my brat little sister in a way where I'm just like, 'Don't come for me, OK? Momma's working.' I'm going to have to give you a learning if you're going to want to f*cking start some sh*t. Dude, you're not the biggest fight (for me). Gina's the biggest fight. It also benefits (Harrison), all of this. Now she's got a higher profile than she's ever had. You're welcome. Go figure out how to do something with it."
Rest assured, Tom Aspinall has every intention of defending his UFC heavyweight title in his return.
Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) signing on to be represented by Eddie Hearn appeared to be a shot at Dana White in many people's eyes – especially with the UFC CEO and Matchroom Boxing CEO constantly trading barbs.
As Aspinall waits for clearance from double eye surgery, Alex Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) and Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will battle for the interim title in the UFC Freedom 250 co-headliner on June 14 at the White House. Aspinall provided a positive update on his talks with the UFC.
"Alex and Ciryl have to fight for the interim title. I'm obviously going to fight the winner," Aspinall said on his YouTube channel. "The UFC have told me that I'm fighting the winner. First and foremost, I have to get my health right – which is on the right track. I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that."
Aspinall is back to training, but isn't allowed to spar just yet.
"No specific month. I'm waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they've just told me," Aspinall said. "Any specific month, depend on the UFC. Those other two have got to fight each other. Let them do their thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody is ready, we'll do it."
Tom Aspinall has provided a positive update on his return to competition, saying he should be “cleared for contact” soon.
Aspinall last fought in October, when his first defence of the UFC heavyweight title ended prematurely, as he suffered multiple eye pokes from Ciryl Gane.
It has been expected that Aspinall, 33, will fight the winner of that bout depending on his health, and the Briton seems confident.
“We are just en route back from the eye hospital, where today I’ve had a scan, and things are progressing f***ing nicely, which I’m very happy about,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel.
“They’re saying, pretty soon – if things keep moving in the right direction – I will be cleared for contact. I am back in the gym, I am back training, [but] not sparring just yet. But if things keep going the way they’re going, we are back.
“Everyone keeps asking when I’m going to fight. The obvious answer is the other two guys, Alex and Ciryl, have to fight for the interim title. I’m obviously going to fight the winner. The UFC has told me that I’m fighting the winner.
“First and foremost, I should get my health right, which is on the right track […] I have to wait for that to be done, and we fight the winner. Simple as that.
“No specific month. I’m waiting to get clearance, which is going to be coming soon, they’ve just told me. And any specific month depends on the UFC. Those two have got to fight each other. Let them do the thing first, recover from that, and then when everybody’s ready, we’ll do it.”
Aspinall was left badly injured by Ciryl Gane’s eye pokes in October (AFP)
Aspinall’s overall record stands at 15-3 (1 no-contest), while his UFC record is 8-1 (1 no-contest) – with his only loss coming via injury in 2022, a defeat he avenged by knocking out Curtis Blaydes in 2024. Furthermore, all of Aspinall’s wins have come via stoppage, 14 in round one and the other in round two.
A clash with Pereira or a rematch with Gane would be highly anticipated. Pereira is a former middleweight champion and two-time light-heavyweight champion, while Gane is a former interim heavyweight champion.
Marwan
Rahiki always knew that his style would shine under the bright
lights.
Rahiki was originally scheduled to face Jack
Jenkins at
UFC Perth on Saturday. However, an injured Jenkins was replaced
on four days’ notice by Hungarian debutant Oliver
Schmid. Rahiki dropped Schmid with a left hook in the first
round, and a few follow-up shots were needed for referee Mike
Beltran to step in.
While this served as Rahiki’s sophomore UFC outing, he was the
third fight on the main card at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Rahiki also debuted on a main card, appearing opposite Harry
Hardwick in March and breaking Hardwick’s jaw in the process.
Although Rahiki respects the competitors on the prelims, he never
saw himself opening a fight card. The Moroccan-Australian always
felt that his action-first style would earn him high bout order
placements. Rahiki boasted in his post-fight interview:
“This is what I imagined coming into the UFC,” Rahiki said
confidently. “With all the respect to the prelims and early
prelims, I’ve never seen myself as the first fight in the card. I
knew the way I fight, it’s exciting, it’s entertaining. With the
bonus on the line, there’s a prize. I train so hard, if there’s
this much to take, I’m not gonna be happy with just a little
bit.”
The unbeaten Rahiki (9-0) has finished his adversary in all nine of
his career wins. Making his way up the ranks of the Hex Fight
Series circuit, “Freaky” went on to secure a contract on the 2025
season of Dana White's Contender Series. He has only
competed beyond the second round once, when he tapped out Semakadde
Kakembo for the HFS 145-pound title last May.
“The way I fight, it's exciting.
It's entertaining.”
Marwan Rahiki picked up his second stoppage win in two months and
believes he is just getting started.
#UFCPerth
Carlos Prates put the welterweight division on notice at UFC Fight Night 275 with a complete annihilation of Jack Della Maddalena.
Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) was impressive from start to finish against Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC), who he picked apart from the bottom up with a dazzling display of striking en route to a third-round TKO at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
The Brazilian has been a knockout machine since he debuted in the octagon in 2024. He's put away everyone aside from Ian Machado Garry, who beat him in a competitive decision in April 2025. Since that fight he's rebounded with highlight wins over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and now Della Maddalena, whose toughness allowed Prates to show off the depth of his striking arsenal. And what an arsenal it was.
Following the win, Prates made his case for a welterweight title shot, laying out a roadmap of either challenging pound-for-pound king Islam Makhachev or avenging his loss to Machado Garry with gold on the line. It seems like a good plan should Makhachev vs. Machado Garry come to fruition for UFC 330 on Aug. 15 in Philadelphia.
At this point, there's nothing more appealing for Prates in this division than a fight for the belt. He's smoked two of the past four 170-pound titleholders, and now it's time to see if he can get ahold of it for himself. Makhachev is seemingly a stylistic issue for him, but it's inarguable that Prates would also be capable of knocking him out.
There's been some calls for Prates to fight undefeated Michael Morales in a true No. 1 contender bout, but honestly, Prates deserves better at this point. He has nothing left to prove in terms of that opportunity, while Morales is arguably lacking another signature win to make himself undeniable.
He's going to have to find it elsewhere, though, because the Prates that showed up Saturday is championship caliber.
The UFC's return to Australia on Saturday flipped the script on the event from a week prior.
UFC Fight Night 274 in Las Vegas a week ago tied a record with 11 decisions at an event that otherwise would have been largely forgettable, anyway. But at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, the highlights came with regularity.
UFC Fight Night 275 had seven stoppages in 13 fights at RAC Arena, including four first-rounders. Check out the UFC Perth finishes in the video above. And which was the best one of the night? Vote in our poll below.
Prates, Quillan Salkilld, Brando Pericic and Shamil Gaziev earned $100,000 UFC Fight Night 275 fight-night bonuses. Four fighters earned $25,000 finish bonuses.
UFC Fight Night 275 drew an announced attendance of 13,839 for a live gate of $3,074,696.
Betting favorites went 10-2 on the card. One fight had even odds.
Betting favorites remained 5-7 in UFC headliners this year. Two main events, including Prates vs. Della Maddalena, had even odds.
Total fight time for the 13-bout card was 2:16:45.
Carlos Prates def. Jack Della Maddalena
Prates has earned 22 of his 24 career victories by stoppage. He's finished all seven of his UFC wins by knockout.
Prates' seven knockout victories in UFC welterweight competition are tied for fifth-most in divisional history behind Matt Brown (13), Thiago Alves (eight), Li Jingliang (eight) and Vicente Luque (eight).
Prates' seven knockout victories since 2024 in UFC competition are most in the company.
Prates' 12 knockdowns landed in UFC welterweight competition are second-most in divisional history behind Thiago Alves (13).
Prates became the seventh fighter in UFC history to have two appearances with three or more knockdowns landed. Israel Adesanya, Anderson Silva, Marlon Vera, Donald Cerrone, Conor McGregor and John Lineker also accomplished the feat.
Della Maddalena has suffered consecutive losses after going on an 18-fight winning streak.
Della Maddalena has suffered three of his four career losses by stoppage.
Quillan Salkilld def. Beneil Dariush
Quillan Salkilld's (12-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) five-fight UFC winning streak at lightweight is tied for the second-longest active streak in the division behind Fares Ziam (six).
Salkilld has earned four of his five UFC victories by stoppage.
Beneil Dariush (23-8-1 MMA, 17-8-1 UFC) has suffered all eight of his career losses by stoppage.
Steve Erceg def. Tim Elliott
Steve Erceg (14-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) has earned four of his five UFC victories by decision.
Tim Elliott (21-15-1 MMA, 10-12 UFC) fell to 8-8 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in December 2016.
Elliott has suffered seven of his 11 UFC losses by decision.
Marwan Rahiki def. Ollie Schmid
Marwan Rahiki (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has earned all nine of his career victories by stoppage.
Ollie Schmid (4-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by stoppage.
Brando Pericic def. Shamil Gaziev
Brando Pericic (7-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned all seven of his career victories by stoppage.
Shamil Gaziev (14-3 MMA, 3-4 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by knockout.
Louie Sutherland def. Tai Tuivasa
Tai Tuivasa's (14-10 MMA, 8-10 UFC) seven-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since February 2022.
Tuivasa's seven-fight UFC losing skid is tied with B.J. Penn for second-longest in company history behind Tony Ferguson (eight).
Tuivasa fell to 5-10 in his past 15 fights after starting his career 10-0.
Tuivasa has suffered seven of his 10 career losses by stoppage.
Junior Tafa def. Kevin Christian
Junior Tafa (7-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC) improved to 1-2 since he dropped to the light heavyweight division in May 2025.
Tafa has earned all seven of his career victories by knockout.
Kevin Christian (9-4 MMA, 0-2 UFC) has suffered all four of his career losses by stoppage.
Jacob Malkoun def. Gerald Meerschaert
Jacob Malkoun (10-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has earned five of his six UFC victories by decision.
Gerald Meerschaert's (37-22 MMA, 12-14 UFC) five-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn't earned a victory since August 2024.
Meerschaert fell to 3-8 in his past 11 fights dating back to April 2022.
Colby Thicknesse def. Vince Morales
Colby Thicknesse (9-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) has earned both of his UFC victories by decision.
Vince Morales (11-11 MMA, 3-9 UFC) suffered his fifth consecutive loss in UFC competition. He hasn't earned an octagon victory since December 2021.
Morales fell to 0-4 since he returned to the UFC for a second stint in September 2024.
Morales has suffered eight of his nine UFC losses by decision.
Wes Schultz def. Ben Johnston
Wes Schultz (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned eight of his nine career victories by stoppage.
Ben Johnston (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) has suffered both of his career losses by stoppage.
Johnston suffered the first submission loss of his career.
Jonathan Micallef def. Themba Gorimbo
Jonathan Micallef (10-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has earned two of his three UFC victories by decision.
Kody Steele def. Dom Mar Fan
Kody Steele (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has earned six of his eight career victories by stoppage.
Dom Mar Fan (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) has suffered all three of his career losses by submission.
UFC research analyst and live statistics producer Michael Carroll contributed to this story. Follow him on X @MJCflipdascript.
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