A detailed fight analysis reveals that Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on boxing blocks (approximately 90% of his defense) against Carlos Prates, which proved ineffective against Prates's diverse striking arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena fought primarily in southpaw stance despite previous issues with leg kicks from Islam Makhachev, and when he switched to orthodox, Prates damaged his left side with mid-kicks. The analyst notes that Maddalena's best chance was aggressive pressure against the cage, but he lacked the speed and aggression needed, while Prates showed complete confidence and used excellent range with diverse striking angles. Regarding a potential Makhachev vs Prates matchup, the analysis suggests Prates has destroyed the lead legs of southpaws Leon Edwards and Maddalena with leg kicks, sometimes finishing with them. While there's clear intrigue in the matchup, questions remain about whether Prates would maintain his striking effectiveness after being controlled in grappling positions. The post suggests UFC may need to decide between holding Prates for Makhachev or matching him against Shavkat Rakhmonov first.
A detailed technical breakdown of Carlos Prates's victory over Jack Della Maddalena has highlighted key defensive flaws in the Australian contender's game and raised questions about where Prates fits in the welterweight title picture.
The analysis centers on Della Maddalena's overwhelming reliance on boxing blocks — roughly 90 percent of his defensive work — which left him exposed to Prates's varied attacking arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. The 29-year-old Australian, ranked fourth at welterweight with an 18-4 record, fought primarily in southpaw stance despite that stance previously drawing punishment from leg kicks in his bout with Islam Makhachev. When Della Maddalena shifted to orthodox, Prates targeted his left side with mid-kicks, compounding the damage. The breakdown notes that Della Maddalena's best path was aggressive forward pressure into the cage, but he lacked the speed and urgency required to execute it consistently.
Prates, by contrast, was credited with complete confidence throughout, demonstrating sharp range management and striking from diverse angles. The analysis points to his record of targeting and destroying the lead legs of southpaw opponents, citing both Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena as examples where leg kicks were a decisive factor.
Why it matters
- Prates has now exposed leg-kick vulnerability in two prominent southpaw welterweights, raising questions about how Islam Makhachev — also southpaw and now holding welterweight gold at 28-1 — would handle similar pressure
- Makhachev averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, meaning a Prates matchup hinges on whether Prates can sustain striking output after extended grappling exchanges
- The ranked third contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov of Kazakhstan, remains unbeaten at 19-0, and the analysis notes the UFC may face a choice between routing Prates toward Makhachev or testing him against Rakhmonov first
- Della Maddalena's defensive habits and stance tendencies now appear as documented liabilities heading into any future top-five assignment
