Carlos Prates is now in position to call out Islam Makhachev after finishing Jack Della Maddalena, whom Makhachev previously defeated by decision. The post suggests Prates can claim he "managed to finish Della Maddalena" as leverage in potential callouts. Makhachev now faces several potential media-driven opponents. Ian Garry and Belal Morales are also mentioned as fighters creating buzz around Makhachev. The situation creates multiple compelling narrative options for the lightweight champion's next fight.
Carlos Prates has thrust himself into the welterweight title conversation after finishing Jack Della Maddalena, a fighter that champion Islam Makhachev had previously defeated only by decision, giving the Brazilian a talking point few others in the division can match.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and sits atop the welterweight division as champion, carrying a pound-for-pound ranking to match. The Russian fighter, who trains with Eagles MMA, is efficient and relentless, landing 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate while also threatening consistently on the ground with 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Della Maddalena entered that fight ranked fourth in the welterweight division at just 29 years old, carrying an 18-4 record and one of the highest striking outputs in the weight class at 5.57 significant strikes per minute. The Australian, who fights out of Scrappy MMA, is predominantly a striker with minimal grappling output, making a finish against him a notable achievement.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," enters the conversation ranked fifth at welterweight with a 24-7 record. The 32-year-old Brazilian stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — the longest of the three fighters involved in this narrative — and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. That he managed to stop Della Maddalena where Makhachev could not gives Prates credible promotional leverage.
Why it matters
- Prates can now argue he accomplished against Della Maddalena what the champion could not, strengthening any callout
- Ian Garry and Belal Morales are also generating noise around Makhachev, creating a crowded field of contenders
- Makhachev's decision to pick his next opponent becomes more complicated with multiple media-driven narratives competing for attention
- The division's ranking picture at the top remains fluid with several fighters pressing their cases simultaneously
