Prates stops Madalena with body kicks; analyst breaks down Makhachev matchup

An in-depth fight analysis reveals Carlos Prates overwhelmed Jack Della Maddalena primarily due to Maddalena's defensive deficiencies and Prates' versatile striking arsenal. Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing block defense that proved ineffective against Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches, and he fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite his left leg being previously damaged by Islam Makhachev. Prates attacked Maddalena's left side with mid-kicks, leaving visible damage by the second round, and eventually scored a knockout with leg kicks. The analyst notes that Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively. Looking ahead to a potential Islam Makhachev matchup, the analysis suggests Prates poses a real threat with his ability to destroy lead legs with low kicks (having done so to southpaws Leon Edwards and Maddalena) and his dangerous striking at range, though questions remain about how he would perform after being controlled on the ground. The UFC must decide whether to give Prates an immediate title shot or first match him against Shavkat Rakhmonov to determine a clear contender.