Carlos Prates revealed in his post-fight interview that he traveled to Australia with approximately 30 people, including his 73-year-old mother and his daughter. The team endured a 40-hour journey to reach Perth for the fight. Prates stated he wasn't going to "play games" given the massive support system that made the trip. He conducted his post-fight interview alongside his mother and daughter, expressing that Australia feels like his second home. The Brazilian thanked the Australian fans and showed respect to Jack Della Maddalena while emphasizing the business nature of the sport.
Carlos Prates brought a traveling party of roughly 30 people with him to Perth, Australia, including his 73-year-old mother and his daughter, the Brazilian welterweight revealed in his post-fight interview following his bout against Jack Della Maddalena.
Prates, 32, made the grueling 40-hour journey from Brazil with his entire support group in tow, and he made clear that the scale of that commitment shaped his mindset heading into the fight. Standing at six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, the Vale Top Team product carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. Known as "The Nightmare," Prates connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, one of the sharper accuracy marks in the division. He conducted the post-fight interview with his mother and daughter at his side, thanked the Australian crowd for their reception, and described the country as feeling like a second home to him.
Della Maddalena, the hometown fighter and fourth-ranked welterweight, was on the receiving end of Prates' respect in the interview. The 29-year-old Scrappy MMA product holds an 18-4 record and fights out of Perth, giving him the full support of his home crowd. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, Della Maddalena generates 5.57 significant strikes per minute, one of the highest output rates in the welterweight division. Prates acknowledged the Australian's standing while framing the contest in straightforward professional terms.
Why it matters
- Prates' commitment to the 40-hour journey with a 30-person delegation underlines the personal stakes he attached to the welterweight matchup
- At fifth and fourth in the rankings respectively, both fighters occupy the crowded space just outside the welterweight title picture
- Prates' long reach advantage of 78 inches against Della Maddalena's high-volume output made for a pronounced stylistic contrast between the two switch-stance strikers
