Oban Elliott’s comeback put on hold after UFC Perth withdrawal. UFC Perth has been hit with another last-minute change. Oban Elliott, a promising welterweight prospect, has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Jonathan Micallef due to illness.
The UFC announced on Thursday that Elliott has been forced to withdraw from Saturday’s event in Perth, Australia, due to illness. His bout with Jonathan Micallef has been cancelled. The exact nature of Elliott’s illness is not yet known. The matchup had been set for Saturday, September 27, 2025, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on the UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes undercard. It was seen as a showcase for two of the division’s brightest newcomers. Elliott was looking to rebound from his first UFC loss in June, while Micallef had been preparing for his second UFC appearance in front of a partisan crowd.
Elliott will now miss the opportunity to rebound from his first UFC defeat. After earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023, he strung together three straight wins, highlighted by a third-round knockout of Bassil Hafez to open his 2025 season.
Australia’s 26-year-old Jonathan Micallef had been hoping to thrill the home crowd and build on the successful Octagon debut of UFC 312 , where he earned a decision victory over Kevin Jousset. With the Perth bout off the table, he now waits to hear what the promotion has planned for him next.
With Elliott sidelined, UFC officials are yet to announce whether Micallef will receive a replacement opponent or be removed from the card entirely. The cancellation marks the second high-profile change to the Perth lineup after the light heavyweight bout between Junior Tafa and Ibo Aslan was scrapped last week due to injury.
Despite the shake-ups, UFC Perth proceeds with 13 bouts scheduled to take place at RAC Arena. With a stacked main card topped by Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes and a light heavyweight co-main between Jimmy Crute and Ivan Erslan.
