EVENT OVERVIEW
UFC Perth: Della Maddalena vs. Prates
Bout: Benjamin Johnston vs. Wes Schultz
Division: Middleweight (185 lbs)
Venue: RAC Arena, Perth, Western Australia
Bout Placement: Early Prelims
Local Start Time: Approx. 6:00 PM AWST
U.S. Broadcast Time: Early Prelims begin 1:00 AM PT / 4:00 AM ET
Indoor venue — no weather impact.
INJURY REPORT
No reported injuries
No camp disruptions
No weight‑cut issues reported for either fighter
Both fighters are fully cleared.
FIGHTER PROFILES & RECENT FORM
Benjamin “The Bad Guy” Johnston
Record: 5–1 Age: 28 Country: Australia Style: Explosive striker with strong clinch control Reach: 75″ Stance: Orthodox
Recent Form
Win — KO (2025)
Win — KO (2024)
Win — Decision (2024)
Loss — Submission (2023)
Win — KO (2023)
Johnston is one of Australia’s rising prospects:
Heavy hands
Strong Muay Thai base
Excellent finishing instincts
Thrives in front of a home crowd
He is still developing his ground game but has shown improved takedown defense in recent bouts.
Strengths
Knockout power
Fast starts
Strong clinch striking
Home‑country advantage
Weaknesses
Limited grappling depth
Can be hittable in exchanges
Has not faced many UFC‑level wrestlers
Wes “The Soldier” Schultz
Record: 7–3 Age: 31 Country: USA Style: Wrestle‑boxer with grinding top control Reach: 74″ Stance: Orthodox
Recent Form
Win — Decision (2025)
Loss — KO (2024)
Win — Submission (2024)
Loss — Decision (2023)
Win — KO (2023)
Schultz is a durable, well‑rounded fighter who relies on:
Pressure wrestling
Dirty boxing
Clinch control
Grinding pace
He is not a big finisher but wins minutes with pressure and physicality.
Strengths
Strong wrestling base
Good cardio
Durable and experienced
Effective against strikers who struggle with pressure
Weaknesses
Limited striking power
Predictable entries
Vulnerable to fast, explosive opponents
MATCHUP BREAKDOWN
Striking
Johnston: Faster, more powerful, more dynamic
Schultz: Functional boxing but lacks speed and pop
Edge: Johnston
Grappling
Johnston: Improving but untested at elite level
Schultz: Better wrestler, more control time
Edge: Schultz
Cardio
Johnston: Strong early, slows slightly in R3
Schultz: Built for grinding fights
Edge: Schultz
Fight IQ
Johnston: Still developing
Schultz: More seasoned, more tactical
Edge: Schultz
BETTING TRENDS
1. Australian Fighters in Australia
Historically outperform expectations due to:
Crowd energy
Reduced travel fatigue
Familiar environment
2. Striker vs. Wrestler Dynamic
Public money tends to favor the striker (Johnston), while sharp bettors often look for value on the wrestler (Schultz).
3. Schultz’s Durability
He rarely gets finished early, which may push bettors toward:
Over 1.5 rounds
Fight Goes the Distance
4. Johnston’s KO Threat
Books will shade Johnston ITD heavily.
FIGHT ODDS
Benjamin Johnston` – 140
Wes Schultz + 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, May 1, 2026
