A detailed breakdown of the Prates vs. Maddalena fight reveals that Maddalena relied too heavily on a boxing block defense, which proved ineffective against Prates' diverse arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena fought primarily in southpaw stance, which surprised analysts given that his left leg was damaged in his fight with Makhachev and he had fought mostly orthodox against Belal. Prates exploited this by attacking Maddalena's left side with mid-kicks, leaving it visibly red by the second round. Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression to pressure Prates effectively, and when he tried to close distance, Prates used his length and diverse striking angles to dominate. The analysis concludes that Prates would have beaten Maddalena regardless of preparation due to his supreme confidence, striking versatility, and ability to enter a flow state. Regarding a potential Makhachev vs. Prates matchup, the post notes that Prates has already damaged the legs of southpaw opponents Edwards and Maddalena with low kicks, potentially presenting a challenge for Makhachev on the feet, though Makhachev's grappling and ability to soften strikers in the guard could neutralize Prates' striking confidence.
A technical breakdown of Nicolas Prates' victory over Jack Della Maddalena has emerged, painting a picture of a fighter overwhelmed by an opponent with greater striking range and adaptability.
Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian welterweight ranked fourth in his division with an 18-4 record, entered the bout known for his high-volume offense — he lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute, among the higher rates in the division. Yet against Prates, his reliance on a boxing-oriented shell defense left him exposed. The analysis highlights that Maddalena fought primarily out of a southpaw stance, a choice that drew scrutiny given that his left leg had sustained damage in a prior fight with Islam Makhachev. Having fought mostly orthodox against Belal Muhammad, the stance selection surprised observers and proved costly.
Prates seized on that vulnerability immediately, repeatedly targeting Maddalena's compromised left leg with mid-kicks that had the limb visibly marked by the second round. When Maddalena attempted to close distance, Prates used his length and a diverse toolkit of kicks, knees, elbows, and punches to control the engagement. The analysis concludes that Prates' striking versatility and supreme confidence — including a capacity to enter a flow state mid-fight — would have produced the same result regardless of how Maddalena prepared.
Why it matters
- Maddalena's left-leg vulnerability may now be a documented target for any future opponents, complicating his path back toward a title shot from his current fourth-place ranking
- Prates has now been credited with damaging the legs of two southpaw opponents, Leon Edwards and Maddalena, with low-kick combinations
- A potential matchup between Prates and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev — who carries a 28-1 record, lands takedowns at 3.2 per fifteen minutes, and operates out of a southpaw stance — presents a stylistic puzzle, with Prates' leg-kick pressure a credible threat on the feet, though Makhachev's grappling and guard work could neutralize that striking confidence
