An in-depth tactical analysis explores the central question of the Maddalena versus Prates fight: whether there will be a direct collision in the center of the cage, and if not, who will move backward. The post notes that Prates has dropped opponents 11 times in the UFC while moving forward and rarely retreats except briefly against Neil Magny. Maddalena's entire game is also built on forward movement. The analysis highlights Maddalena's vulnerability, noting he absorbed over 50 clean straight punches from Belal Muhammad, while Prates only needs one to finish fights. The piece examines Ian Garry's success against Prates, attributing it to Garry's ability to feel and evade the left straight on millimeters, his size, speed, and diverse attack including kicks. Maddalena lacks Garry's kicking arsenal but may force Prates backward with superior short-range combination boxing. Despite the risks, the analyst picks Maddalena to overwhelm Prates with volume and damage, predicting a decision or TKO in rounds 3-4.
