A detailed breakdown reveals Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on boxing blocks for defense, which proved ineffective against Carlos Prates's tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Della Maddalena fought primarily in southpaw stance despite having his left leg damaged by Makhachev previously, and Prates punished his left side with middle kicks in round two. The analyst notes Della Maddalena's best chance was aggressive pressure, but he lacked the speed and was intimidated after eating a knee. Prates showed exceptional belief, versatility, and power from all angles. Regarding a potential Makhachev-Prates matchup, the analysis notes Prates has destroyed the lead legs of southpaws like Edwards and Della Maddalena with 10-15 leg kicks potentially leading to knockout, creating intrigue despite Makhachev's elite grappling. The post suggests UFC may need to decide between immediate title shot or an eliminator against Vicente Luque.
A recent analytical breakdown of Carlos Prates's victory over Jack Della Maddalena has highlighted how the Brazilian's striking variety dismantled the Australian welterweight contender's defensive gameplan from the opening rounds.
The analysis centers on Della Maddalena's over-reliance on traditional boxing blocks, a defensive shell that left him exposed to weapons operating outside that narrow frame. Prates attacked with kicks, elbows, knees, and punches in combination, cycling through them at a pace and from angles that pure boxing defense simply cannot address. In round two, Prates repeatedly targeted Della Maddalena's left side with middle kicks — significant given that the same leg had previously been damaged during his loss to Islam Makhachev. Despite that vulnerability, Della Maddalena fought primarily in southpaw stance throughout. The 29-year-old Australian, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and thirteenth pound-for-pound at 18-4, had shown an output-heavy style across his career, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute, but the breakdown suggests he lacked the hand speed to implement the aggressive pressure that represented his best path to victory. After absorbing a knee early, his confidence appeared to wane.
Prates, by contrast, demonstrated exceptional power and belief across all ranges, with the analysis praising his versatility as a defining factor in the performance.
Why it matters
- A potential Makhachev-Prates matchup carries genuine intrigue, as Prates has landed 10-15 leg kicks against southpaw opponents like Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena, a volume that the breakdown suggests could threaten even elite fighters
- Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian welterweight champion sitting at 28-1, is a southpaw himself, meaning his lead leg would be a natural Prates target despite his elite grappling credentials averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes
- The UFC faces a routing decision for Prates between an immediate title shot and an eliminator against Vicente Luque, the 34-year-old American known as The Silent Assassin who carries a 24-12-1 record and averages 4.83 significant strikes per minute
