Analysis questions whether Maddalena or Prates will fight going backward

A detailed breakdown examines the central question of the Maddalena vs Prates fight: whether there will be a head-to-head clash in the center of the octagon, and if not, who will be forced to fight going backward. Prates has dropped opponents 11 times in the UFC while moving forward and rarely retreats, needing forward movement to land his powerful left straight. Maddalena's entire game is also built on moving forward, creating a potential collision. The analysis suggests Maddalena is at risk if they clash in the center, as he absorbed over 50 clean straight punches against Belal, while Prates only needs one clean shot. Maddalena's advantage lies in short-range combination boxing and counter-striking, areas where Prates struggles. Ian Garry's success came from his ability to read Prates' left hand on millimeters, superior kicks, footwork, and versatility. The breakdown concludes that Maddalena must force Prates backward and overwhelm him with volume, potentially winning by decision or TKO in rounds 3-4.