Belal Muhammad successfully forecasted how Carlos Prates would defeat Jack Della Maddalena, emphasizing the importance of leg kicks and diverse striking. Muhammad had recommended that fighters attack Della Maddalena's legs and arms, and use head kicks, noting that Della Maddalena tends to absorb one strike to land three in return. Against Prates, Muhammad warned, no fighter would want to absorb even a single strike given the Brazilian's power. The analysis proved prescient as Prates dominated using exactly these tactics. Muhammad's accurate breakdown has led to suggestions he should consider a career as an MMA analyst.
Welterweight champion Belal Muhammad proved to be an astute observer of the division when his pre-fight breakdown of Jack Della Maddalena's vulnerabilities played out almost exactly as he had described, following Carlos Prates' dominant victory on May 3, 2026.
Muhammad had publicly outlined a specific blueprint for beating the Australian contender, advising fighters to target his legs and arms with kicks while mixing in head kicks to keep him guessing. The key warning, however, was about absorbing punishment in return. Muhammad noted that Della Maddalena tends to eat one shot in order to land three back — a trade that becomes untenable against a striker with Prates' power.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division at 29 years old, carries one of the most prolific outputs in the weight class, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute with 51 percent accuracy. The switch-stance fighter from Australia owns an 18-4 record and a 73-inch reach, making him a dangerous, high-volume threat.
Prates, nicknamed "The Nightmare," presented a different equation entirely. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and holds a 24-7 record with a ranking of fifth in the welterweight division. Standing six-foot-one with a massive 78-inch reach, the switch-stance southpaw lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his physical tools make absorbing even a single clean shot a costly proposition.
Why it matters
- Muhammad's breakdown highlights a known defensive pattern in Della Maddalena's game that top welterweights may now look to exploit
- Prates' win moves him to fifth in the division, tightening the logjam behind champion Muhammad
- The accuracy of Muhammad's scouting has prompted discussion about his analytical abilities beyond his fighting career
