A detailed fight analysis reveals that Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing guard for defense, approximately 90% of the time, which proved ineffective against Carlos Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena's guard was porous and he took many straight punches through it without the explosive countering ability that fighters like Petr Yan possess. Surprisingly, Maddalena fought extensively in southpaw stance despite having his left leg damaged in the Makhachev fight, and when he switched to orthodox, Prates targeted his left side with middle kicks. Maddalena's chance was to be an aggressive first-mover, keep Prates against the fence, but he lacked the speed and aggressiveness, being somewhat cautious. Prates showed exceptional versatility and confidence, using different angles with knees, elbows and punches, and effectively utilizing his reach. The analysis suggests Prates would have demolished Maddalena regardless of preparation due to his belief, momentum, and all-around striking ability. For a potential Makhachev vs Prates fight, the analyst notes Prates has destroyed the lead leg of southpaws like Edwards and Maddalena with low kicks, and any distance mistake could result in a knockout punch, though questions remain about how Prates would handle being controlled on the ground.
A post-fight breakdown has examined exactly how Carlos Prates dismantled Jack Della Maddalena, pointing to a fundamental defensive flaw that left the Australian welterweight exposed throughout the bout.
Prates, the 32-year-old Brazilian known as "The Nightmare," improved to 24-7-0 with the victory and now sits at number five in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he used that length to full effect, mixing knees, elbows, kicks, and punches from multiple angles in a performance the analysis describes as a showcase of exceptional versatility and belief.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings, entered the fight at 18-3-0. The 29-year-old from Australia carries a naturally high output, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute across his career, but his reliance on a boxing guard for roughly 90 percent of his defensive work left him vulnerable to Prates' wide arsenal. Straight punches found their way through the guard repeatedly, and Maddalena lacked the explosive countering instincts needed to punish an opponent willing to attack from so many angles.
The analysis also highlights a telling tactical detail: Della Maddalena fought heavily in southpaw stance despite carrying damage to his left leg from his previous outing against Islam Makhachev. When he shifted to orthodox, Prates immediately targeted that compromised left side with middle kicks. His path to success, according to the breakdown, was to be an aggressive first-mover and pin Prates against the fence, but he was too cautious and too slow to impose that game plan.
Why it matters
- Prates' win moves him from fifth to a potential title contention conversation in a loaded welterweight division
- The analysis flags his ability to destroy the lead legs of southpaws, having done so against both Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena
- A possible future matchup with welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, 28-1-0 at 34 years old, is floated, with questions centered on whether Prates could survive grappling exchanges against one of the sport's elite wrestlers, who averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes
