A detailed fight analysis reveals Carlos Prates defeated Jack Della Maddalena through superior striking diversity and aggression. Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing guard defense which proved ineffective against Prates's array of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena fought mostly in southpaw stance despite his left leg being compromised after the Makhachev fight, and Prates damaged his left side with mid-kicks. The analyst believes Prates would have won regardless of Maddalena's preparation due to his belief, versatility, and current momentum. Looking ahead to a potential Islam Makhachev matchup, the analysis notes Prates has consistently damaged southpaws' right legs with low kicks and can finish with them, creating intrigue. However, Makhachev is himself a high-level striker who disguises takedowns well, and ground pressure could diminish Prates's effectiveness. The UFC must decide whether to match Prates with Santiago Moraes first or save him for Makhachev.
Carlos Prates used a diverse and aggressive striking attack to defeat Jack Della Maddalena, and a detailed post-fight analysis now breaks down exactly why the Brazilian southpaw dominated — and what that performance could mean for a future shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Prates, 32, holds a 24-7 record and is ranked fifth in the welterweight division. Fighting out of Vale Top Team, the switch-stance Brazilian stands six-foot-one with a remarkable 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The analysis credits his victory to striking versatility — deploying kicks, elbows, knees, and punches in combination — as well as his belief and current upward momentum in the division.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, entered the fight at a disadvantage. The 29-year-old Australian carries a 18-4 record and generates a high 5.57 significant strikes per minute, but the analysis notes he leaned heavily on a boxing guard that offered little protection against Prates's multi-dimensional attack. Compounding the issue, Della Maddalena fought mostly in southpaw stance despite carrying a compromised left leg from his previous outing against Makhachev, and Prates repeatedly targeted that side with mid-kicks.
Why it matters
- Prates now sits one step closer to welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, with his ability to damage southpaws' right legs via low kicks drawing specific attention ahead of any potential title fight.
- Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and lands takedowns at 3.2 per 15 minutes, meaning Prates's striking output — effective as it is — could be neutralized by elite grappling and ground pressure.
- Makhachev is also a high-level striker who disguises his takedown entries, adding complexity to any stylistic matchup.
- The UFC faces a routing decision: whether to book Prates against Santiago Moraes as an interim step or move him directly into a title fight.
