Carlos Prates can now confidently call out Islam Makhachev and claim he was able to finish Jack Della Maddalena early, something Makhachev did not do. This gives Prates significant talking points in potential media exchanges with the lightweight champion. The post notes that Makhachev now has multiple potential opponents who can generate media attention, with Ian Garry and Vicente Luque mentioned as others in that category. The implication is that Prates has strengthened his position as a credible challenger through his performance.
Carlos Prates has emerged from his finish of Jack Della Maddalena with fresh ammunition in his pursuit of welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, using the stoppage to draw a pointed contrast with how Makhachev handled the same opponent.
Prates, 32, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight division. The Brazilian out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him a dangerous and active striker from a switch stance. His finish of Della Maddalena now serves as a direct talking point against the champion, given that Makhachev did not stop the Australian when the two met.
Della Maddalena, the fourth-ranked welterweight at 29 years old, brought elite striking volume into that fight — averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute, among the highest in the division — which made Prates' finish all the more noteworthy.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and is the reigning welterweight champion, ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound list. The Russian from Eagles MMA averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and converts 58 percent of his strikes, giving him one of the most well-rounded profiles in the sport. With a crowded field of credible challengers that reportedly includes Ian Garry and Vicente Luque alongside Prates, the champion has no shortage of opponents capable of generating attention.
Why it matters
- Prates' finish of Della Maddalena creates a direct performance comparison with Makhachev, strengthening his case for a title shot
- At fifth in the rankings, Prates now has results to match his rhetoric in any public campaign for the fight
- Makhachev faces a genuine selection problem with multiple high-profile challengers each capable of driving media interest
