Maddalena vs. Prates: Who moves backward determines the outcome, analysts say

The key question heading into the Jack Della Maddalena vs. Carlos Prates welterweight bout is whether there will be a head-to-head collision in the center of the octagon, and if not, who will be forced to retreat. Prates has knocked down opponents 11 times in the UFC while moving forward and rarely fights going backward, needing forward momentum to land his powerful left straight. Maddalena's entire fighting style is also built on moving forward, making it unlikely either fighter wants to retreat. If they clash in the center, analysts believe Maddalena faces serious danger, as Prates needs only one clean shot to finish fights, while Maddalena absorbed over 50 clean punches against Belal Muhammad. Maddalena's advantage lies in his short-range combination boxing and counterstriking, areas where Prates has shown vulnerability against opponents like Trevin Giles and Ian Garry. The tactical puzzle makes this a potentially classic UFC fight, with some analysts favoring Maddalena to force Prates backward and win by decision or TKO in rounds 3-4.