A detailed re-watch analysis identified multiple tactical errors in Jack Della Maddalena's loss to Carlos Prates. Approximately 90 percent of Della Maddalena's defensive actions relied on a boxing block, which proved inadequate against Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. The block was porous, allowing many straight punches through, and Della Maddalena couldn't counterattack explosively from the block like Petr Yan does. Della Maddalena surprisingly fought mostly in southpaw stance despite having his left leg damaged by Makhachev previously; when he switched to orthodox, Prates punished his left side with middle kicks. The analysis notes Della Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively. Regarding a potential Makhachev vs Prates matchup, the breakdown suggests Prates has proven he can destroy opponents' lead legs quickly and poses real knockout danger at distance, though questions remain about how he would handle Makhachev's wrestling and top pressure.
A detailed tactical breakdown of Carlos Prates' victory over Jack Della Maddalena has surfaced, pinpointing specific defensive mistakes that left the Australian welterweight vulnerable throughout the contest.
The analysis found that roughly 90 percent of Della Maddalena's defensive work relied on a single boxing block — a shell that proved inadequate against the varied attack Prates brought to the fight. Straight punches leaked through the guard regularly, and unlike fighters such as Petr Yan who can counter explosively from a similar position, Della Maddalena struggled to generate meaningful offense while absorbing shots. The breakdown also highlighted a surprising stance choice: despite carrying damage to his left leg from a previous outing against Islam Makhachev, Della Maddalena spent much of the fight in a southpaw stance, exposing that injured lead limb. When he did shift to orthodox, Prates immediately targeted his left side with middle kicks. A lack of the speed and sustained aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively compounded those problems.
Della Maddalena, 29, holds an 18-4 record and ranks fourth in the welterweight division. The six-foot-one, switch-stance striker generates an impressive 5.57 significant strikes per minute — one of the higher output rates in the division — but his 51 percent accuracy and near-absent grappling suggest his game depends heavily on clean offensive exchanges going his way.
Prates, nicknamed The Nightmare, improved to 24-7 with the win and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old Brazilian reaches 78 inches and connects at 55 percent accuracy while averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute. He carries genuine knockout danger and, according to the breakdown, has shown a clear ability to destroy opponents' lead legs early in fights.
Why it matters
- The analysis raises questions about Della Maddalena's defensive toolkit heading into any future high-level matchups
- Prates' win pushes him toward contention in a crowded 170-pound division
- The breakdown floats a potential Prates versus Makhachev matchup, noting Prates' leg-kick volume and finishing ability at range, while acknowledging that the welterweight champion's wrestling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — and top pressure remain unresolved questions for any opponent
