September’s been a wild one for the UFC. Paris lit up on the 6th, San Antonio roared on the 13th, and now, the Octagon is packing its bags for Perth on the 28th. Three Fight Nights in the same month, each with real stakes. But make no mistake—none of them carry the weight of this one in Australia. Why? Because at RAC Arena, we’re getting a clash that feels like destiny: Carlos Ulberg vs. Dominick Reyes. And let’s not dance around it—the winner just might be staring down the barrel of a title shot. But here’s the twist: it’s not as straightforward as it looks.

On October 4, the highly anticipated rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira goes down at UFC 320. The world will finally see whether ‘Poatan’ gets his revenge or the Dagestani powerhouse secures his first title defense. But no matter who leaves Las Vegas with the belt, one thing is certain. The winner will need a new challenger. That’s where Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes come in. Both men are in a prime position to stake their claim as the next contender to face either Ankalaev or Pereira. But is that really the case? Let’s break it down.

Dominick Reyes or Carlos Ulberg: One win streak is going to break in Australia    

The UFC Perth headliners have both carved compelling paths to the top. Ulberg and Reyes had to overcome serious contenders to make their mark among the 205 lbs elite. Now, both are on winning streaks. They’ll be eager to extend at the upcoming event and beyond.

Speaking of streaks, Ulberg is chasing history. After grinding through some grueling battles, ‘Black Jag’ is currently riding an eight-fight winning streak, which is the third-longest active streak in the light heavyweight division. Leading the list is Jon Jones with 13 wins, followed by reigning champion Magomed Ankalaev with nine, and then the Kiwi with eight. So, a victory at UFC Perth would equal his streak with the champ! And that’s a massive milestone. However, Reyes’ story is different but equally compelling.

The former title challenger is on a three-fight winning streak, which may seem modest compared to Ulberg’s. But the context matters. Reyes once endured four consecutive losses that nearly derailed his career. Now, he’s back in the title conversation for the second time, following his razor-thin decision loss to Jones at UFC 247, a fight many believed he had won.

At the UFC Perth headliner, one winning streak is bound to end. On paper, Ulberg looks formidable! He’s coming off an impressive victory over Jan Blachowicz at UFC London — and that’s going to build his confidence. Meanwhile, Reyes has a notable win over Nikita Krylov in his last outing. But overall, the Kiwi seems to have the edge heading into this clash. However, even the victor of this fight isn’t guaranteed a title shot. And the reason for that lies with the looming UFC 320 showdown.

UFC 320: Prochazka vs Rountree Jr., the real problem on the horizon 

Next month, the light heavyweight division will take center stage at the T-Mobile Arena. Of course, the spotlight will shine brightest on the headliners — champion Magomed Ankalaev versus the sport’s current superstar, Alex Pereira. But don’t sleep on the featured main card bout, where Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. are expected to deliver an all-out war. Also, this clash has all the makings of a front-runner for Fight of the Year.

As this fight promises to be a banger, it could also serve as an eliminator for the light heavyweight championship. Jiri Prochazka has dominated every opponent he’s faced, except Pereira. While Rountree Jr. went toe-to-toe with ‘Poatan’ in the first two rounds at UFC 307, showing he can hang with the best. To top it off, both fighters defeated former 205 lbs champion Jamahal Hill in their most recent bouts, adding even more weight to this clash.

So, it wouldn’t be surprising if the winner of this bout ended up calling out the UFC 320 main event fighters for a future title shot. And honestly, Dana White would likely be more than happy to match the champion against either contender. That means the winner of UFC Perth might not get an immediate title shot — but all hope is not lost.

The only way for UFC Perth headliners to get an immediate title shot   

Given the current landscape, it’s unlikely that either Ulberg or Reyes will secure an immediate title shot. However, there is one way to change that. Deliver a viral knockout at UFC Perth! That’s the surest way to grab Dana White’s attention and win over the fans. And while it may not guarantee a title shot, it will certainly improve their chances significantly.

Any performance short of spectacular could actually hurt their chances. Ulberg, with his eight-fight winning streak and #3 ranking, and Dominick Reyes, with the prestige of having gone toe-to-toe with Jon Jones, won’t get the nod if they don’t deliver a fight that rivals what Prochazka and Rountree are expected to bring.

So here’s where we land: UFC Perth isn’t just a main event. It’s a proving ground. Ulberg wants validation. Reyes wants redemption. Only one walks out with their streak alive, their name buzzing in contender talk.

The question is—who do you have? The Kiwi on a tear, or the comeback kid who’s already stood toe-to-toe with greatness?