Analyst breaks down Prates vs. Della Maddalena, discusses Makhachev matchup

A detailed tactical analysis reveals that Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on boxing blocks for defense, which proved ineffective against Carlos Prates' diverse striking arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Della Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite having his left leg compromised in his previous fight with Makhachev, and Prates targeted his left side with mid-kicks that left visible damage. The analyst noted that Della Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively. Regarding a potential Makhachev vs. Prates matchup, the analysis highlights that Prates has successfully damaged the lead legs of southpaw opponents Edwards and Della Maddalena with low kicks, sometimes achieving knockouts. However, Makhachev's high-level striking combined with his wrestling threat could present different challenges, as ground control could diminish Prates' striking confidence in later rounds. The analyst suggests UFC may consider matching Prates against Shavkat Rakhmonov to determine a clear number one contender.