Gambling will not be offered on this website in any form.
UFC Perth: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates continues on the prelims with a fight between Jonathan Micallef and Themba Gorimbo within the welterweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Micallef-Gorimbo prediction and pick.
Jonathan Micallef (9-1) has been nothing wanting impressive in his young UFC profession, going an ideal 2-0 contained in the Octagon. He earned a unanimous decision over Kevin Jousset at UFC 312, then followed it up with a slick second-round rear-naked choke submission of Oban Elliott at UFC 325 in January — as he comes into his fight this weekend against Themba Gorimbo.
Themba Gorimbo (14-6) has shown each his ceiling and his vulnerability in recent outings. He suffered a brutal 52-second anaconda choke submission loss to elite welterweight Vicente Luque at UFC 310 in December 2024, but bounced back strong with a unanimous decision win over Jeremiah Wells in November 2025, as he comes into his fight this weekend against Jonathan Micallef.
UFC Perth Odds, courtesy of DraftKings.
UFC Perth Odds: Jonathan Micallef-Themba Gorimbo Odds
Jonathan Micallef: -245
Themba Gorimbo: +200
Over 2.5 rounds: +105
Under 2.5 rounds: -135
Why Jonathan Micallef Will Win
Jonathan “The Captain” Micallef is a whole fighter, and his grappling arsenal alone should give Themba Gorimbo serious problems on Saturday. With three submission wins to his name — including triangle chokes and a rear-naked choke — Micallef has the tools to neutralize Gorimbo wherever the fight goes.
Gorimbo’s biggest weakness has been exposed at the very best level — he was submitted in a staggering 52 seconds by Vicente Luque at UFC 310 via anaconda choke. Micallef is precisely the style of technical grappler who can exploit that very same vulnerability again.
At six feet tall and a reported massive frame for 170 kilos, Micallef also holds a major physical advantage over Gorimbo. That size and strength, combined together with his relentless pressure, will make it difficult for Gorimbo to ascertain his own offense.
Micallef can also be 2-0 contained in the UFC and riding serious momentum, having just finished Oban Elliott at UFC 325 in January. Confidence and octagon experience are invaluable, and “The Captain” has each in his corner heading into Perth.
Gorimbo is hard and explosive, but Micallef’s grappling precision and physical dominance needs to be the difference. Expect Micallef to tug this to the mat and work for a submission finish before the championship rounds.
Why Themba Gorimbo Will Win
Don’t count out Themba “The Answer” Gorimbo, a person who has been through war, literally surviving poverty in Zimbabwe before becoming a UFC fighter. That sort of mental fortitude and resilience is something you just cannot coach, and it shows up when the lights are brightest.
Gorimbo is a legitimate veteran with a 14-6 record and much more high-level UFC experience than Micallef. While Micallef is simply 2-0 within the Octagon, Gorimbo has faced multiple ranked opponents and understands how you can adjust mid-fight in ways a two-fight UFC veteran hasn’t been tested on yet.
Gorimbo’s striking is explosive and unpredictable, he carries serious knockout power in each hands and has the footwork to maintain Micallef guessing on the feet. If he can keep this fight standing and avoid the grappling exchanges, his striking advantage could possibly be the difference-maker.
The bounce-back win over Jeremiah Wells via unanimous decision in November 2025 proved Gorimbo can grind through adversity and still perform. Wells isn’t any pushover, and winning a full three rounds showed Gorimbo’s conditioning and championship-level heart.
Micallef is undefeated within the UFC, but undefeated records get shattered by experienced veterans each week. Gorimbo has the tools, the toughness, and the motivation at hand “The Captain” his first Octagon loss in front of his home crowd on Saturday night.
Final Jonathan Micallef-Themba Gorimbo Prediction & Pick
It is a compelling stylistic clash between a rising grappling specialist and a battle-tested striker, however the edge goes to Jonathan “The Captain” Micallef on Saturday night. His technical submission game and big physical frame for 170 kilos create problems that Gorimbo hasn’t consistently solved throughout his UFC tenure.
Gorimbo’s striking is dangerous, and one clean shot could end the night early for any opponent. But Micallef’s game plan will likely center on taking this fight to the mat, where Gorimbo has already shown he will be finished quickly. The Vicente Luque submission loss in 52 seconds is a red flag that will not go unnoticed in Micallef’s camp. Expect “The Captain” to focus on that very same grappling vulnerability from the opening round.
Micallef’s momentum, youth, and submission arsenal needs to be enough to get the job done in front of what will likely be a raucous Australian crowd.
Final Jonathan Micallef-Themba Gorimbo Prediction & Pick: Jonathan Micallef (-245), Under 2.5 Rounds (-135)
UFC Perth: Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates continues on the prelims with a fight between Jonathan Micallef and Themba Gorimbo within the welterweight division on Saturday. Try our UFC odds series for our Micallef-Gorimbo prediction and pick. Jonathan Micallef (9-1) has been nothing wanting impressive in his young UFC profession, going an ideal 2-0 contained in the Octagon.