Jack Della Maddalena stated he will finish Carlos Prates in the fifth round of their upcoming welterweight bout. Della Maddalena acknowledged Prates has many serious victories with spectacular knockouts, predicting an exciting fight. He believes the opening minute will be particularly interesting and doesn't expect much feeling-out process early. Della Maddalena anticipates they will immediately engage in exchanges to determine who is the better fighter, then build their strategies over the five-round distance. The Australian contender expressed confidence about his ability to finish the fight late.
Jack Della Maddalena has made a bold declaration ahead of his welterweight matchup with Carlos Prates, stating publicly that he intends to put Prates away in the fifth and final round.
The 29-year-old Australian, training out of Scrappy MMA, enters the fight ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings. Carrying a record of 18-4, Della Maddalena has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at a 51 percent accuracy rate. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and competes out of a switch stance.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," brings a record of 24-7 into the contest and sits one spot behind Della Maddalena at fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains with Vale Top Team, stands six-foot-one with a notably longer 78-inch reach and posts a striking accuracy rate of 55 percent. Della Maddalena acknowledged that Prates carries serious knockout power and has compiled a string of spectacular finishes throughout his career.
Despite that respect, Della Maddalena expressed little interest in a cautious opening. He anticipates both men will engage immediately, with the first minute likely to set the tone for the entire fight. Rather than a prolonged feeling-out process, he expects early exchanges to establish who the better fighter is before strategies develop across the five-round distance.
Why it matters
- A win for either man could push him into welterweight title contention from the top five
- Both fighters operate out of a switch stance, creating a mirror matchup with meaningful reach disparity in Prates's favor
- Della Maddalena's high striking volume against Prates's accuracy and length sets up a compelling technical contrast on the feet
