Maddalena vs Prates tactical breakdown focuses on pressure dynamics

An in-depth tactical analysis of Jack Maddalena vs Carlos Prates examines whether the fight will be a center-cage war and which fighter will move backward. Prates has dropped opponents 11 times in the UFC moving forward and rarely retreats, while Maddalena's entire game is built on forward pressure. If they clash in the center, advantage goes to Prates as Maddalena absorbed over 50 clean head strikes from Belal Muhammad, and Prates needs only one. Maddalena's best chance is using short combination boxing and counter-striking to force Prates backward and pressure him against the cage. Ian Garry succeeded by perfectly sensing and evading Prates' left straight, but Maddalena lacks Garry's kicking arsenal and mobility. The analysis suggests Maddalena must force Prates backward and overwhelm him with volume while avoiding the power punches, predicting Maddalena by decision or TKO in rounds 3-4.