Jack Della Maddalena has acknowledged the difficulties he will face this weekend against Carlos Prates. The Australian welterweight praised Prates as a phenomenal and very dangerous fighter who is compelling to watch. Della Maddalena emphasized that when Prates gets into his flow, he looks very good, and staying focused will be critical. Despite recognizing Prates' strengths, Della Maddalena believes his skills are sufficient to handle the Brazilian's best attributes. The fight is scheduled for this weekend at UFC Perth.
Jack Della Maddalena has spoken candidly about the threat posed by Carlos Prates ahead of their welterweight clash at UFC Perth this weekend, openly praising his opponent while expressing confidence in his own ability to deal with whatever Prates brings.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, carries an 18-4 record into the bout. The 29-year-old Australian, who trains out of Scrappy MMA, is one of the more prolific strikers in the division, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at a 51 percent accuracy rate. He operates out of a switch stance and stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," enters ranked fifth at welterweight with a 24-7 record. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team presents a notably different physical profile, standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — a five-inch reach advantage over Della Maddalena. He also fights out of a switch stance and connects at a 55 percent striking accuracy rate. Prates has not recorded a submission attempt in the UFC, making his game almost entirely stand-up oriented.
Della Maddalena described Prates as a phenomenal and very dangerous fighter, noting that when Prates finds his rhythm, he is particularly difficult to deal with. The Australian acknowledged that maintaining focus throughout the fight will be essential, while still expressing belief that his own skill set is more than capable of neutralizing what Prates does best.
Why it matters
- A win for Della Maddalena over a fellow top-five opponent could position him as a legitimate title contender at 170 pounds
- Prates' five-inch reach advantage and high striking accuracy make distance management a key factor
- Both fighters operate from a switch stance, setting up a technically layered striking matchup between the division's fourth and fifth-ranked contenders
