A detailed fight analysis reveals Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily (about 90%) on boxing-style blocking against Carlos Prates' diverse striking arsenal, which proved inadequate against the tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. The author notes that Della Maddalena's porous guard allowed many straight punches through, and unlike fighters like Petr Yan who can counter-punch from a defensive shell, Della Maddalena lacks the explosive hands needed for that style. Surprisingly, Della Maddalena fought extensively in southpaw stance despite Islam Makhachev previously damaging his left leg, and when switching to orthodox, Prates targeted his left side with middle kicks until it was visibly red by the second round. The analysis suggests Della Maddalena's best chance was aggressive pressure against the cage, but he lacked the speed and was intimidated after eating a knee. Regarding a potential Islam Makhachev versus Prates matchup, the author notes Prates has destroyed the lead legs of southpaws Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena with 4-5 low kicks disrupting movement and 10-15 potentially causing knockouts. While acknowledging the intrigue, the author questions whether Prates would maintain his confidence after being ground-controlled for a round, and suggests UFC should consider booking Prates versus Arman Tsarukyan to determine a clear contender.
A detailed post-fight breakdown of Carlos Prates' victory over Jack Della Maddalena has identified a critical flaw in the Australian's defensive approach: an over-reliance on boxing-style blocking that left him vulnerable to Prates' full spectrum of striking weapons.
According to the analysis, Della Maddalena leaned on a boxing guard roughly 90 percent of the time, a shell that simply could not account for Prates' kicks, elbows, and knees alongside his punching combinations. The study also notes that Della Maddalena's guard was porous even against straight punches, and that unlike fighters such as Petr Yan who can generate explosive counter-shots from a defensive shell, Della Maddalena lacks that same hand speed and timing to make the style work.
Della Maddalena, now 18-4 and ranked fourth in the welterweight division at age 29, is a switch-stance striker with a 73-inch reach who lands 5.57 significant strikes per minute, one of the higher output rates in the division. Yet the analysis points out that he fought extensively in southpaw stance despite Islam Makhachev having previously damaged his left leg. When he did shift to orthodox, Prates immediately targeted that compromised left side with middle kicks until the leg was visibly red by the second round. The breakdown suggests Della Maddalena's best path to victory was relentless forward pressure against the cage, but a damaging knee early in the fight eroded his willingness to commit.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare" and ranked fifth at welterweight, carries a 24-7 record and a 78-inch reach at six-foot-one. The Brazilian switch-stance fighter lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his various weapons.
Why it matters
- Prates has targeted the lead legs of southpaw welterweights Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena with precision, using clusters of low kicks to disrupt movement and setting up potentially fight-ending combinations
- A potential matchup between Prates and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who holds a 28-1 record, carries obvious intrigue, though the analysis raises questions about Prates' confidence if taken down and controlled for a full round
- The author instead suggests the UFC book Prates against Arman Tsarukyan to identify a clearer number-one contender at 170 pounds
