A detailed fight analysis reveals that Jack Della Maddalena relied almost 90% on boxing blocks for defense against Carlos Prates, which proved ineffective against Prates' diverse striking arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees and punches. Della Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite having his left leg damaged by Makhachev previously, and when he switched to orthodox, Prates punished his left side with body kicks until it was visibly red. The analysis notes Della Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively, while Prates demonstrated exceptional confidence and versatility in his striking. The breakdown concludes that regardless of preparation, Prates would have overwhelmed Della Maddalena due to his momentum, belief, and all-around striking ability. A potential matchup with Islam Makhachev is discussed as presenting interesting challenges for Prates.
A detailed breakdown of the welterweight contest between Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates has concluded that Della Maddalena's defensive habits were fundamentally mismatched against the Brazilian's varied attack, with the analysis suggesting Prates would have prevailed regardless of how the Australian prepared.
The central finding is that Della Maddalena relied on boxing blocks for roughly 90 percent of his defensive work. That approach left him exposed to the full width of Prates' arsenal, which included kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Compounding the problem, Della Maddalena spent most of the fight in a southpaw stance despite carrying damage to his left leg from a previous bout with Islam Makhachev. When he did shift to orthodox, Prates targeted his left side with body kicks until the skin visibly reddened. The analysis also identifies a deficit in hand speed and forward pressure, two qualities that would have been necessary to disrupt Prates' rhythm.
Della Maddalena, now 18-4 and ranked fourth in the welterweight division at 29 years old, is a high-volume striker who lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. The Australian out of Scrappy MMA possesses a 73-inch reach, yet the breakdown suggests those tools were neutralized by an opponent with superior range and weapon selection.
Prates, nicknamed The Nightmare, carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian from Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The analysis credits his confidence and versatility as decisive factors throughout the fight.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena's defensive framework will need significant retooling before he can compete at the division's highest level
- Prates climbs the welterweight picture with momentum and a performance that has drawn comparisons to elite-level striking
- A potential future matchup between Prates and reigning welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who is 28-1 and owns a win that left lasting physical effects on Della Maddalena, is already drawing analytical interest
