An analytical review of the Jack Della Maddalena versus Carlos Prates fight reveals critical tactical mistakes by the Australian fighter. Maddalena relied approximately 90% on a boxing block for defense, which proved ineffective against Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. The porous block allowed multiple straight punches through, and unlike fighters like Petr Yan who can counter explosively from this position, Maddalena lacked the speed for effective counterattacks from the block. Surprisingly, Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite his left leg being compromised in his previous bout with Makhachev, making him vulnerable to Prates' middle kicks that visibly reddened his left side by the second round. The analysis suggests Maddalena's best chance required aggressive first-number work to keep Prates backing up against the cage, but he lacked the speed and was too cautious after absorbing a knee strike. The breakdown concludes that regardless of preparation, Prates' belief, versatility, and power across all striking tools would have prevailed. Regarding a potential Makhachev-Prates matchup, the analysis notes Prates' success against southpaws with low kicks and his dangerous striking, but questions whether he could maintain effectiveness after being controlled on the ground, suggesting the UFC must decide whether to match him with Nico Moralès first.
Quick read
AgentMMA.com
