A detailed breakdown of Jack Della Maddalena's loss to Carlos Prates reveals several tactical issues that contributed to his defeat. Della Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing block defense, approximately 90% of the time, which proved inadequate against Prates's diverse arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. The Australian fighter spent considerable time in a southpaw stance despite having his left leg targeted heavily by Prates, particularly after similar damage from Islam Makhachev in a previous bout. Prates repeatedly landed middle kicks to Della Maddalena's left side, leaving visible damage by the second round. The analysis suggests Della Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively, and that Prates's versatility, power, and confidence from multiple angles made him extremely difficult to handle regardless of game plan. The post also speculates on a potential matchup between Prates and Islam Makhachev, noting Prates's effectiveness against southpaw opponents with leg kicks.
A tactical breakdown of Jack Della Maddalena's welterweight loss to Carlos Prates has highlighted a series of defensive miscalculations that analysts say played a decisive role in the outcome.
Della Maddalena, a 29-year-old Australian out of Scrappy MMA, entered the fight ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th in the pound-for-pound standings. He carries an 18-4 record and is one of the division's most active strikers, averaging 5.57 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy. Despite that output, the analysis found he defaulted to a boxing block defense roughly 90 percent of the time — a shell that offered little protection against the width of Prates's attack.
Prates, 32, fighting out of Vale Top Team in Brazil, holds a 24-7 record and sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. Known as "The Nightmare," the six-foot-one switch-hitter carries a 78-inch reach advantage over most opponents and averages 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. His combination of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches from multiple stances made the boxing shell an exploitable target rather than a reliable shelter.
The breakdown points specifically to Della Maddalena's repeated use of a southpaw stance despite his left leg absorbing heavy middle kicks throughout the contest. Visible damage reportedly accumulated by the second round. Analysts note this was compounded by earlier leg-kick damage sustained against Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion. Makhachev, a 34-year-old Russian standing 5-foot-10 with a 70-inch reach, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and operates out of a southpaw stance — a stance the review suggests Prates also exploits effectively.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena's ranking and path back to title contention will depend on addressing clear defensive gaps at range
- Prates's win over a top-five opponent at 170 pounds strengthens his case for a higher-profile matchup
- The analysis raises the possibility of a Prates versus Makhachev contest, noting Prates's track record against southpaw opponents using leg kicks
