Tactical breakdown: Will Maddalena or Prates move backward in welterweight clash?

A detailed tactical analysis examines the key question in the upcoming Jack Maddalena versus Carlos Prates fight: will there be a head-on collision in the center of the cage, and if not, who will move backward? Prates has knocked down opponents 11 times in the UFC while moving forward and rarely retreats except for brief moments against Neil Magny. Maddalena's entire style is also built on forward pressure, and he has never been seen retreating except in minor instances. If they clash in the center, the odds don't favor Maddalena, who absorbed over 50 clean straight punches against Belal Muhammad, while Prates only needs one clean shot. However, Maddalena has advantages in short-range combination boxing and counterstriking, areas where Prates struggles. Ian Garry succeeded against Prates by using kicks and footwork to control distance, plus an exceptional ability to feel and avoid the left straight on millimeters. Maddalena will likely need to rely purely on boxing, press Prates to the fence, and smother him with volume while maintaining perfect defensive discipline for 25 minutes, which the analyst considers a tall order.