Carlos Prates scored a devastating knockout victory over Jack Della Maddalena in the third round at UFC Perth. The Brazilian welterweight contender broke down and finished the previously undefeated-by-knockout Australian fighter. This marks a significant win for Prates in his campaign toward a title shot. The finish came after Prates systematically damaged Della Maddalena throughout the fight. Details of the exact finish were limited in the brief post announcement.
Carlos Prates delivered a stunning third-round knockout of Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026, handing the Australian welterweight contender a significant defeat and catapulting the Brazilian closer to a title shot.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," improves to 24-7 with the finish. The 32-year-old Brazilian, fighting out of Vale Top Team, entered the bout ranked fifth in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-one with a remarkable 78-inch reach — 198 cm — Prates brings a physical edge to most matchups. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 3.77 per minute with a 55 percent accuracy rate, a figure that reflects his calculated, efficient style. He systematically broke Della Maddalena down across three rounds before sealing the finish.
Della Maddalena, 29, falls to 18-4 with the loss, which ends his previously unblemished record against knockouts. The Perth native, fighting out of Scrappy MMA, had been ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings heading into the contest. Despite standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, the switch-stance Australian is a high-volume striker who averages 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy — among the higher output rates in the division.
Why it matters
- Prates, ranked fifth, defeats the fourth-ranked Della Maddalena, closing the gap on the top of the welterweight division significantly.
- The knockout finish removes Della Maddalena's previously untouched status in that category, altering his profile as a contender.
- Prates now has a compelling case for a high-profile welterweight assignment, potentially one that carries title implications.
- The reach advantage of five inches — 198 cm versus 185 cm — likely played a role in Prates controlling the distance throughout the bout.
