An analytical breakdown of the upcoming welterweight bout between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates suggests Prates holds the advantage despite Maddalena's power-punching style. The analysis notes that while Maddalena's pressure-fighting approach could work against Prates, who struggles when opponents press forward, Maddalena lacks the footwork and kicking game that Ian Garry used effectively against the Brazilian. Prates remains dangerous throughout the entire fight, as demonstrated when he nearly finished Garry in the fifth round despite losing the first four. The piece argues that Maddalena's only path to victory is maintaining perfect defensive discipline while pressuring Prates for 25 minutes, which seems unlikely given that even Belal Muhammad landed clean shots on him. The analysis concludes by favoring Prates to win.
A detailed analytical breakdown of the welterweight matchup between fourth-ranked Jack Della Maddalena and fifth-ranked Carlos Prates has concluded that Prates holds the overall edge heading into their bout, despite Maddalena's well-documented knockout power.
Della Maddalena, 29, carries an 18-4 record and sits at number four in the welterweight division, also holding the number 13 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Australian out of Scrappy MMA is a switch-stance fighter standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach. He generates significant volume, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy, though his grappling output remains minimal, with just 0.13 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," is a 32-year-old Brazilian representing Vale Top Team. He holds a 24-7 record and ranks fifth at welterweight. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and a 55 percent striking accuracy rate, Prates carries genuine danger across all five rounds — a quality illustrated by his near-finish of Ian Garry in the fifth round of their fight despite trailing on the scorecards through the first four.
Why it matters
- The analysis identifies Maddalena's pressure-fighting style as a potential tool against Prates, who has shown vulnerability when opponents push forward aggressively.
- However, Maddalena is seen as lacking the footwork and kicking game that Garry deployed to control Prates effectively for much of their contest.
- Even Belal Muhammad, a wrestler-first fighter with a 43 percent striking accuracy, landed clean shots on Maddalena, raising questions about his defensive discipline under sustained output.
- The analysis frames Maddalena's path to victory as a narrow one requiring near-perfect defensive execution across 25 minutes — a tall order given his profile.
Both men switch stances, and Prates holds a five-inch reach advantage at 198 cm compared to Maddalena's 185 cm, a physical edge that could prove meaningful in a contest expected to be decided on the feet.
