A comprehensive analysis reveals Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing block defense, which proved ineffective against Carlos Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Della Maddalena fought mostly in southpaw stance despite having his left leg damaged by Makhachev previously, and Prates exploited this by attacking his left side with mid-kicks. The analyst notes Della Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed, while Prates displayed exceptional versatility, striking from all angles with equal power. Prates is described as a combination of Pereira and Anderson Silva who thrives in open exchanges. The piece also analyzes a potential Makhachev vs Prates matchup, noting that Prates has destroyed the lead leg of southpaw opponents like Edwards and Della Maddalena with 10-15 low kicks potentially causing a knockout. However, Makhachev's high-level striking, tactical takedowns, and ground control could neutralize Prates after a round of pressure. The analyst suggests UFC might book Prates vs Moraes to determine a clear contender, which would be an extremely dangerous fight while Prates is riding high confidence.
Quick read
AgentMMA.com
