Ben Johnston made his promotional debut at UFC Perth on Saturday, taking on American Wes Schultz.
Australia’s Johnston had been out since a fight in Eternal MMA back in 2024. Schultz had dropped his own debut to Damian Pinas earlier this year, and was looking to bounce back.
While Schultz initiated a takedown right off the opening bell, it was Johnston coming out on top in a scramble. He got to work in half guard, though Schultz did manage to shrimp back to the fence. Still, Schultz was trapped on his back, and Johnston found space to land some right hands. Another minute ticket away, two left on the clock, and Schultz was no closer to getting back to his feet. About 30 seconds later, he’d finally scramble free, only to essentially accept another takedown, pulling Johnston down on top of him.
An early clinch in round two saw Schultz connect with a solid knee! He went after a guillotine, thought Johnston survived, only to have to endure a second choke attempt. He’d scramble free after that and get on top, only for another scramble to see Schultz make it to side control. A few seconds later, yet another scramble, and it was Johnston in top position. This time, he was able to add some short elbows; when Schultz found space, however, he wrapped up another guillotine. Again, Johnston survived.
With two minutes still on the clock the second frame had been a busy one. Lots of grappling from both me, lots of submission attempts by Schultz. After more action, Schultz’s corner called for a knockout, claiming Johnston’s chin wasn’t there.
Instead, Schultz went after another guillotine early in the third. Johnston had lost his mouthpiece and was in a horrible spot, but gutted it out and pulled free. Schultz then answered a knee with several punches and a kick to the body before Johnston clinched up and got Schultz down. He punctuated that with a big ground strike on the way down. Yet just as it seemed like Johnston was in control, Schultz wrapped up another guillotine choke. And this time, he was able to force the tap!
"It means all my student loans are paid off now, that's what that means. Suck it, uncle Sam!" – Wes Schultz on what winning his first UFC bout means to him. #UFCPerth
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) May 2, 2026
Official Result: Wes Schultz def. Ben Johnston by submission (guillotine choke), Round 3, 1:50
