A detailed analysis of Jack Della Maddalena's loss to Carlos Prates reveals several tactical mistakes. Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing-style block for defense, which proved inadequate against Prates's varied arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches, allowing many strikes through. He fought primarily in southpaw stance despite having his left leg badly damaged by Makhachev previously, and when he switched to orthodox, Prates targeted his left side with middle kicks. Maddalena lacked the speed and aggression needed to pressure Prates effectively, and his kicks were too slow and weak to control distance. The analyst notes that Prates's belief in himself, length advantage, and ability to strike from multiple angles with power made him nearly impossible for Maddalena to overcome regardless of game plan. The piece also analyzes potential challenges for Islam Makhachev against Prates, noting the Brazilian's devastating leg kicks could compromise Makhachev's movement, though questions remain about how Prates would handle ground pressure.
