Prates finishes Maddalena with third-round TKO at UFC Perth

Carlos Prates delivered a third-round TKO finish over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026, handing the Australian welterweight a significant setback in front of what was likely a hostile crowd.

Prates, known as "The Nightmare," improved his professional record to 24-7 with the stoppage. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and entered the fight ranked fifth in the welterweight division. At six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — one of the longer frames in the weight class — Prates overwhelmed Maddalena with strikes before forcing the referee's intervention in the third round. He connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, a mark that reflects both his output and his precision.

Maddalena, now 18-4, came in ranked fourth at welterweight and sat at number 13 in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 29-year-old switch-stance fighter out of Scrappy MMA had built a reputation as one of Australia's most exciting prospects, averaging 5.57 significant strikes landed per minute — among the highest rates in the division. The Perth card was essentially a home appearance for the Western Australian, making the defeat a difficult one.

Why it matters

• Prates climbs inside the welterweight top five with a statement finish, potentially leapfrogging Maddalena in the updated rankings
• Maddalena drops to fourth or lower after his first UFC loss at welterweight, stalling what had been a rapid rise toward a title shot
• The reach and size advantage Prates carried — 198 cm versus 185 cm — proved a factor in a striking-heavy contest between two switch-stance fighters
• The welterweight title picture grows more competitive with a legitimate contender on either side of this result now repositioned