UFC Perth: Ulberg vs. Reyes headlines a 14-fight card from Australia

The UFC returns with a 14-fight slate on Saturday night from Perth, Australia, headlined by a light heavyweight title eliminator between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes. The event follows a rare week without fights and will be streamed on ESPN+ starting at 7 p.m. ET.

Ulberg, a 12-1 prospect trained with City Kickboxing, enters as the favorite to push toward another crack at the 205-pound title. Reyes, who challenged Jon Jones for the belt, has endured a rough stretch of losses but has rebounded with three straight knockout wins against seasoned competition, signaling a potential return to contention at age 35. The contrast is notable: Ulberg brings documented power and a high-upside ceiling, while Reyes carries championship experience and the ability to spark finishes at any moment.

In the co-main, Jimmy Crute meets Ivan Erslan in a matchup that could hinge on Crute’s grappling and submission aptitude. Crute has shown the ability to submit skilled UFC competitors, but cardio and consistency have been recurring questions in recent years. Erslan, who has not yet secured a win in the UFC, will need to withstand Crute’s diverse toolkit and avoid getting overwhelmed on the ground. The bout represents a test of Crute at a level of competition where he must show durability and precision to reaffirm his championship-pursuit trajectory. The rest of the Perth card features a mix of established veterans and rising welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight contenders, with a slate of functional betting options across major sportsbooks.

The full fight card includes a array of bets across ESPN Bet, DraftKings, BetMGM, and Caesars, with several notable bets already highlighted by oddsmakers. For example, Ramon Taveras sits at +240, while Jake Matthews is favored to win by over 1.5 takedowns, a common pathway for Matthews in his fights against higher-level competition. Justin Tafa faces Louie Sutherland with Sutherland on the money line, and Tom Nolan and Charlie Campbell are projected to a decision outcome by BetMGM at lucrative odds. Other bets include Rodolfo Bellato on the money line, Andre Petroski to win with the fight starting round two, Jonathan Micallef versus Oban Elliott on the money line, Jamie Mullarkey with a potential submission play at 18-1, and Colby Thicknesse versus Josias Musasa on the money line. In addition, the market offers bets on a longer odds proposition such as Lookboonmee versus Thainara going the distance and Montague versus Carolina extending to a decision. The card reflects a robust betting slate as fans tune in for a long night of action in Australia.

The event will be shown in its entirety on ESPN+ and represents a continued push into Australia for the UFC, following in the wake of a growing regional slate that aims to capitalize on the country’s sizable MMA audience. The Perth card promises a night of competitive action with implications beyond the cage, particularly for a division craving fresh challengers and new storylines.

As the action unfolds in Perth, fans and bettors will watch whether Ulberg can translate his potential into a decisive statement against a former title challenger, and whether Reyes can reclaim momentum on the cusp of a possible title run. If Ulberg can control the pace and keep the fight standing, the path to a title shot could become clearer. If Reyes returns to form with pace and finishing power, the division may need to recalibrate expectations for the next wave in the light heavyweight division. The result could shape the title picture in 205 pounds for the remainder of the year, while also delivering the marquee moment fans anticipate in a city that has embraced the UFC in recent years.