Carlos Prates systematically destroyed Jack Della Maddalena's leg with strikes before finishing him in the third round at UFC Perth. Prates improved to 24-7 overall and won his third consecutive fight. Della Maddalena dropped to 18-4 and suffered his second straight loss following his title fight defeat to Islam Makhachev. The commentary highlighted Prates' striking prowess and finishing ability. The Brazilian's leg attack set up the eventual stoppage in the main event.
Carlos Prates delivered a calculated and brutal performance at UFC Perth, systematically targeting Jack Della Maddalena's lead leg before stopping the Australian welterweight in the third round of their main event clash on May 2, 2026.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," improved to 24-7 with the victory, his third consecutive win. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and has built a reputation as one of the division's most dangerous finishers. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and the leg-kick assault that set up Saturday's stoppage was another demonstration of his ability to break opponents down methodically before closing the show.
For Della Maddalena, the defeat is a difficult blow. The 29-year-old Australian drops to 18-4 and has now lost back-to-back fights, the previous setback coming in a welterweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev. Ranked fourth in the division and 13th pound-for-pound, Della Maddalena entered the fight as one of the most active strikers in the weight class, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute. The leg damage inflicted by Prates, however, neutralized that output before the fight reached its conclusion.
Why it matters
- Prates climbs to fifth in the welterweight rankings with three straight wins, firmly entering title contention conversation
- Della Maddalena's second consecutive loss raises questions about his path back toward the top of the division
- The finish reinforces Prates' finishing ability and technical striking, particularly his use of low kicks to set up stoppages
- The welterweight landscape continues to shift beneath champion Islam Makhachev, with contenders rising and falling rapidly
