Carlos Prates defeated Jack Della Maddalena via third-round stoppage in the UFC Perth main event. The Brazilian broke down the Australian fighter systematically before securing the finish. The victory represents a significant statement win for Prates in the welterweight division. Details of the specific finish are limited in this brief report. The result shakes up the welterweight rankings and title picture.
Carlos Prates delivered a third-round stoppage of Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Perth, handing the Australian welterweight a decisive defeat on home soil on May 2, 2026.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," improved his record to 24-7 with the victory. The 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team entered the fight ranked fifth in the welterweight division and made full use of his physical advantages — standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — to break Maddalena down systematically before securing the finish in the third round. Prates connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, a mark that reflects the precision behind his volume.
Maddalena came in ranked fourth in the welterweight division and held the number-13 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings, making him one of the most prominent names Prates had faced. The 29-year-old from Australia trains out of Scrappy MMA and had built a reputation as a dangerous striker, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute. He carried a record of 18-4 into the contest.
Why it matters
- Prates, entering ranked below Maddalena at fifth, leapfrogs a higher-ranked welterweight with the win, reshaping the divisional picture.
- Maddalena's pound-for-pound standing and fourth-place ranking made this a genuine statement victory for the Brazilian.
- Both fighters are switch-stance strikers, but Prates held a meaningful reach advantage of five inches, which factored into his ability to work from distance.
- The welterweight title picture now has a new contender demanding attention after a main-event performance on a UFC pay-per-view card.
