Micallef Took Elliott’s Back
Jonathan Micallef submitted Oban Elliott at 3:31 of the second round at UFC 325 in Sydney on February 1, 2026, local time. The welterweight contest at Qudos Bank Arena ended by technical submission after a rear-naked choke left Elliott unable to respond.
A canceled Perth assignment had delayed the pairing
The fighters had been scheduled to meet the previous September, but Elliott’s pneumonia forced him out. Micallef therefore waited almost a year after his first UFC appearance for another completed contest.
That debut had produced a unanimous decision over Kevin Jousset at UFC 312. The Australian’s return to Sydney offered a chance to build on the result against an opponent with whom unfinished competitive business remained.
Elliott’s early striking made the opening exchanges difficult
Elliott advanced with effective punches while Micallef struggled to establish a clean rhythm. The Welsh fighter found opportunities as the Australian reached and swung more widely than intended.
Micallef created a crucial connection in the second. When Elliott closed the distance, the Australian used the clinch exchange to bring the fight down and work toward the back.
A tightly secured choke supplied the decisive transition
Micallef locked the rear-naked choke and concealed his finishing hand behind Elliott’s head. The defender could not remove the grip and lost consciousness before tapping.
The technical submission moved Micallef to 2–0 in the UFC, with both victories coming in Sydney. His ground skills converted a difficult striking assignment into a decisive finish as soon as the opportunity to take the back appeared.
Sources
- UFC: official results and scores
- UFC: preliminary fight reports
- UFC: postponed bout, preceding Jousset win and choke details
