Jack Della Maddalena has predicted he will finish Carlos Prates in the fifth round of their upcoming bout. Della Maddalena expects an exciting fight given Prates' record of impressive victories with spectacular knockouts. The Australian believes the opening minute will be particularly interesting and doesn't anticipate much feeling-out process. He expects both fighters to engage in exchanges immediately to test each other, with the fight then developing over the full five-round distance before his predicted finish.
Jack Della Maddalena has gone on record predicting he will stop Carlos Prates in the fifth round of their upcoming welterweight clash, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the division's most anticipated matchups.
Della Maddalena enters the fight ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, carrying an 18-4 record at 29 years old. The Australian, who trains out of Scrappy MMA, is one of the busiest strikers in the 170-pound class, averaging 5.57 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy. He switches stances and stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," sits one spot below Della Maddalena at fifth in the welterweight rankings and brings a 24-7 record into the contest. The 32-year-old Brazilian, representing Vale Top Team, is a six-foot-one switch-stance fighter with an imposing 78-inch reach. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 55 percent and has built his reputation on spectacular knockout finishes.
Della Maddalena acknowledged Prates' highlight-reel record and anticipates an immediate battle, stating he does not expect either man to spend much time feeling the other out. He foresees both fighters exchanging early to establish themselves, with the contest then playing out over the full championship distance before he closes it out in round five.
Why it matters
- A win for either fighter would strengthen a case for a welterweight title shot, with both men sitting inside the top five at 170 pounds.
- The reach advantage of roughly five inches in Prates' favor creates a compelling stylistic question against Della Maddalena's high-volume output.
- Both men are switch-stance strikers with finishing pedigree, making early exchanges especially dangerous for each side.
