Commentary suggests Carlos Prates now has strong leverage to challenge Islam Makhachev, having finished Jack Della Maddalena whom Makhachev defeated by decision. The post notes Prates can publicly claim he 'actually finished' Maddalena while Makhachev did not. This creates multiple potential media-driven opponents for Makhachev's next title defense. Ian Garry and others are also mentioned as potential verbal challengers who will use similar talking points to build fights.
Carlos Prates now holds a piece of media ammunition that could push him toward a welterweight title shot, after finishing Jack Della Maddalena in a manner that Islam Makhachev — the division's reigning champion — was unable to replicate in his own victory over the Australian.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who trains out of Vale Top Team, stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and brings a genuinely threatening striking profile, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy from a switch stance.
Della Maddalena, currently ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, holds an 18-4 record. The 29-year-old Australian is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute, making any finish over him a notable achievement.
Makhachev, the welterweight champion, is 28-1 and ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old Russian averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate — among the highest in the sport. His defeat of Della Maddalena came by decision, a talking point that commentary has now highlighted as a potential weakness in his resume that Prates can exploit publicly.
Why it matters
- Prates can credibly argue he accomplished against Della Maddalena what the champion could not, giving him a concrete narrative for a title callout
- Ian Garry and other welterweight contenders are also expected to leverage similar talking points as Makhachev's next title defense takes shape
- The finish adds divisional urgency around the fifth-ranked Prates, potentially leapfrogging others in the queue for a championship opportunity
