A detailed tactical breakdown questions whether Della Maddalena versus Prates will feature a head-on clash in the center of the octagon and which fighter will be forced to retreat. The analysis notes Prates has knocked down opponents 11 times in the UFC while moving forward and rarely retreats, needing forward movement to land his powerful left straight. Della Maddalena similarly builds his game on forward pressure and has rarely been seen backing up. The breakdown highlights Della Maddalena's vulnerability to straight punches, having absorbed over 50 clean jabs and crosses against Belal Muhammad, while noting Prates only needs one clean shot. The analyst credits Della Maddalena's advantages in short-range combination boxing and suggests he must force Prates backward and maintain aggressive pressure at close range. Despite these complexities, the analyst picks Della Maddalena to win by decision or TKO in rounds 3-4, predicting he will force Prates to retreat and inflict damage with volume striking.
