UFC Perth Delivers Must-See Prelims Early Saturday Morning

UFC Perth fight week is here. As the calendar turns to May at the end of the work week, Dana White's promotion finds itself making its second trip to Australia in three months' time. Be warned if you're planning on watching this week's UFC Fight Night, though, because it'll be an earlier start time than usual.

Live coverage of UFC Perth will begin Saturday morning at 4 am ET/ 1 am PT. Inside the United States of America, the event will be seen gavel-to-gavel on Paramount Plus. All told, there are 13 fights on the schedule of events planned for this weekend's action.

There will be a heavy Australian presence inside the fabled Octagon this Saturday for the show, with a total of 12 contestants fighting in front of their fellow countrymen during the event. Thus, expect a partisan audience throughout the entirety of the night's activities.

UFC Perth Featured Prelim: Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek: Examining Cam Rowston

At the top of the undercard on Saturday night, the middleweights do battle when Cam Rowston (14-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) fights Robert Bryczek (18-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC,) formerly of OKTAGON MMA. All fights mentioned herein are an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round. Rowston enters this week's card having posted a record of 5-0 in his last five fights dating back to October of 2024.

Last time out, he scored a second-round knockout (punches) of Cody Brundage (11-9-1, 1 NC MMA, 5-1, 1 NC UFC) on Feb. 1 (Australia time) in UFC 325. He's fought exclusively in his home country of Australia since joining the UFC's active roster by way of Dana White's Contender Series last year.

It's paid off handsomely for Rowston, who's batting 2-for-2 in such appearances. Can he step up to the plate and score big again?

Sizing Up Robert Bryczek

Across the way, Bryczek has gone 4-1 in his last five fights, but he hasn't fought since last September. On Sept. 6, during UFC Paris, he finished Brad Tavares (21-12 MMA, 16-12 UFC) inside the third and final round of the fight with a right cross and follow-up strikes.

Time of the stoppage: One minute and 43 seconds into the period. Fighting in enemy territory is a daunting task, one which awaits Bryczek this weekend in UFC Perth.

Only time will tell if he can hand Rowston his first UFC loss on Saturday.

UFC Perth Co-Featured Prelim: Junior Tafa vs. Kevin Christian: Looking at Tafa

Immediately beforehand, the co-featured contest on the undercard happens at 205 lbs. Junior Tafa (6-5 MMA, 2-5 UFC) meets up with Kevin Christian (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC.) The former will be making the walk with a 1-4 record in his last five bouts.

During UFC 325 on Feb. 1, he dropped his second fight in a row via second-round submission (rear-naked choke) to Billy Elekana (10-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC.)  Junior Tafa is in must-win territory during the UFC Perth co-featured prelim this Saturday night.

A loss here would make it three in succession and it would also drop his winning percentage in the UFC banner down to .250 with a record of 2-6. Can he get back in the win column on Saturday? More importantly, can he save his position on the UFC roster this Saturday?

Dissecting Kevin Christian

Meanwhile, Kevin Christian is in the opposite situation of his opponent. He's gone 4-1 over the past five fights dating back to March of 2019. 

For both Junior Tafa and Kevin Christian, however, the last opponent remains the same, as does the result. During the Nov. 1 UFC Vegas 110 at the Meta Apex, he was submitted by Billy Elekana with a rear-naked choke in the opening round of action. 

When a fighter is coming off of a loss, as Christian will be on Saturday during UFC Perth, he can be just as dangerous as he is when he's on a hot streak. Will Kevin Christian get back into victory lane?

UFC Perth: Jacob Malkoun vs. Gerald Meerschaert: Zeroing in on Malkoun

Also on the UFC Perth prelims, you'll be treated to a middleweight contest matching Jacob Malkoun  (9-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) against Gerald Meerschaert (37-21 MMA, 12-13 UFC.) Malkoun will be making his walk to the Octagon this Saturday night with a 3-2 record in his past five appearances.

He's gotten his hand raised in each of his last two fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Torrez Finney (11-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) during UFC 325 earlier in the year. Malkoun's MMA career is budding at this point, and he's right on the doorstep of a benchmark in his career.

Should he get his hand raised on Saturday night, he'll have emerged victorious from 10 contests as a professional fighter. He'll have to get past a grizzled veteran of the sport if he is to hit double digits in the win column.

Gerald Meerschaert's Last Stand in UFC Perth?

In the other corner, Gerald Meerschaert has posted a 1-4 record in his last five fights. He's tasted defeat in each of the past four contests, including a first-round submission by way of D'arce choke from Kyle Daukaus (17-4, 1 NC MMA, 4-4, 1 NC UFC) on Nov. 15 during UFC 322 in New York City.

Despite the defeat in The Big Apple, Meerschaert did not retire after that card.  Saturday's contest in UFC Perth is his 59th appearance as a professional, a rare number for any competitor in any weight class. 

This could very well be the final appearance for Gerald Meerschaert in MMA as a fighter, outcome notwithstanding. Can the veteran score his 38th win? Tune in and find out.

Rest of the Prelims

The UFC Perth undercard is rounded out by these fights:

• a bantamweight contest versing Colby Thicknesse (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Vince Morales (16-10 MMA, 3-8 UFC,)
• a middleweight fight pairing Wes Schultz (8-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) against Ben Johnston (5-1 MMA, UFC promotional debut,)
• a welterweight bout between Jonathan Micallef (9-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Themba Gorimbo (14-6 MMA, 4-3 UFC,)
• and a lightweight encounter matching Kody Steele (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with Dom Mar Fan (9-2 MMA, UFC promotional debut.)