Igor Lazorin noted that Carlos Prates can now confidently call out Islam Makhachev by pointing out he was able to finish Jack Della Maddalena, something Makhachev did not do. Lazorin suggests this gives Prates legitimate talking points in potential media buildup with Makhachev. He indicated that Makhachev now has many potential media opponents including Ian Garry and others, with Prates being among them. The comment highlights how Prates' finish gives him promotional ammunition that other contenders may lack.
Carlos Prates now holds a piece of promotional leverage that Islam Makhachev does not: a finish over Jack Della Maddalena. Analyst Igor Lazorin pointed out that the Brazilian contender can use that distinction as a legitimate talking point if a media buildup with the welterweight champion ever materializes.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion out of Russia with a record of 28-1. He carries a 58 percent striking accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters in the sport. Lazorin noted that the champion currently has no shortage of potential media opponents, with Ian Garry and others also in the conversation alongside Prates.
Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth in the division at 18-4, is one of the most active strikers in welterweight, averaging an impressive 5.57 significant strikes per minute. Despite that output, he was unable to avoid a stoppage loss to Prates, a result Makhachev did not produce in his own meeting with the Australian.
Prates, known as The Nightmare, is ranked fifth at 32 years old and carries a 24-7 record for Vale Top Team. The six-foot-one Brazilian owns a 78-inch reach and averages 3.77 significant strikes landed per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His finish of Della Maddalena adds a notable name to his resume and, as Lazorin frames it, gives him a specific factual edge over the champion in any pre-fight narrative battle.
Why it matters
- Prates can credibly claim a finish that the reigning champion could not secure against the same opponent
- The distinction gives him a concrete hook in any media-driven buildup toward a title shot
- Makhachev faces a crowded field of welterweight contenders, meaning Prates needs every angle available to separate himself
