A detailed breakdown of the upcoming welterweight clash between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates at UFC Perth favors the Brazilian. The analysis suggests that while Maddalena typically works as an offensive fighter, he lacks the kicking game and footwork that Ian Garry used to control Prates. The assessment notes that Prates is dangerous throughout all five rounds, citing how he nearly finished Garry despite losing the first four rounds. The piece argues that Maddalena's defensive vulnerabilities, demonstrated in his fight against Belal Muhammad, make him susceptible to Prates' power. The analyst concludes that for Maddalena to win, he would need to pressure Prates for 25 minutes while maintaining perfect defense, which seems unlikely. Therefore, the prediction goes to Prates by knockout.
A recent analytical breakdown of the welterweight collision between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates at UFC Perth has come down firmly in favor of the Brazilian challenger, predicting Prates wins the fight by knockout.
Della Maddalena enters the bout ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, carrying an 18-4 record at 29 years old. The Australian, who fights out of Scrappy MMA, is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. The analysis points to his defensive liabilities, citing his performance against Belal Muhammad as evidence that he can be hit and hurt when pressured, and argues he does not possess the kicking game or footwork necessary to neutralize Prates the way Ian Garry did.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," is 32 years old, stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, and holds a 24-7 record while sitting fifth in the welterweight rankings. Fighting out of Vale Top Team in Brazil, he connects at 55 percent striking accuracy and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute. The piece highlights his durability and danger across all five rounds, noting that despite trailing on the scorecards through the first four rounds against Garry, he still nearly finished the fight late.
Why it matters
- Prates at fifth and Della Maddalena at fourth means the winner could force their way into a title shot conversation
- The analysis identifies Della Maddalena's defensive holes as a critical stylistic disadvantage against Prates' power
- Both fighters share an identical switch stance, adding a technical layer to the matchup
- The assessment argues a 25-minute pressure performance with perfect defense from Della Maddalena is an unrealistic ask
