Belal Muhammad correctly forecasted how Carlos Prates would defeat Jack Della Maddalena, suggesting a strategy focused on leg kicks, arm attacks, and head strikes including high kicks. Muhammad noted that Islam Makhachev had success with low kicks against Della Maddalena. He explained that mixing in these leg strikes would force Della Maddalena to hesitate before attacking, as he tends to absorb one strike to land three in return. However, against Prates' power, Muhammad warned that taking even one clean shot is extremely risky. Some commenters joked that Belal should consider a career as an analyst given his accurate breakdown.
Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad drew widespread attention after publicly breaking down exactly how Carlos Prates would defeat Jack Della Maddalena — and then watching his prediction play out.
Muhammad outlined a specific blueprint ahead of the fight, calling for Prates to attack with leg kicks, arm attacks, and head strikes including high kicks. A key part of his reasoning centered on Islam Makhachev's previous success using low kicks against Della Maddalena, and Muhammad argued that mixing in those same leg strikes would disrupt the Australian's rhythm. Della Maddalena, he explained, has a tendency to absorb a shot in order to land three back — an aggressive, high-output style that makes him dangerous but also exploitable. Muhammad's warning was pointed: against the power of Prates, willingly eating even a single clean strike carries serious risk.
Prates, ranked fifth in the welterweight division, is a 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team. The six-foot-one switch-stance striker carries a 78-inch reach and a record of 24-7. He lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his nickname — The Nightmare — proved fitting in this outcome.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, entered the fight at 29 years old with an 18-4 record. The Australian is one of the division's most prolific volume strikers, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 51 percent. At five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, he brings elite output but the style vulnerabilities Muhammad identified proved costly.
Why it matters
- Prates climbs past a top-five welterweight, strengthening his case for a title shot in a stacked 170-pound division
- The result validates leg kick disruption as a tactical key against Della Maddalena, a blueprint now on film for future opponents
- Muhammad, the reigning welterweight champion, demonstrated detailed knowledge of his potential challengers, which carries its own competitive significance
