Maddalena vs Prates breakdown: who moves backward determines the fight

An extensive technical breakdown examines the key question in the Jack Della Maddalena vs Carlos Prates matchup: whether there will be a center-cage collision, and if not, who will move backward. Prates has dropped 11 opponents in UFC by moving forward with his devastating left straight, rarely retreating except briefly against Neil Magny. Maddalena similarly builds his game on forward pressure and has almost never been seen moving backward. If they clash in the center, Maddalena faces danger, having absorbed over 50 clean straight punches against Belal Muhammad, while Prates only needs one clean shot, as demonstrated when he knocked out Trevin Giles after being outboxed for 1.5 rounds. The analysis suggests Maddalena's best path is forcing Prates backward with short-range boxing combinations, as Prates struggles on the pocket distance and lacks short-punch counterstriking. Ian Garry's success came from exceptional distance management and reading Prates's left straight on millimeters, though Maddalena may rely more purely on boxing. The prediction favors Maddalena to force Prates backward, overwhelm him with volume striking, and secure a decision or TKO in rounds 3-4.