A detailed breakdown of Carlos Prates's victory over Jack Della Maddalena reveals several tactical factors. Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing-style block defense, which proved ineffective against Prates's diverse arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite previously having his left leg damaged by Islam Makhachev, and Prates targeted his left side extensively with mid-kicks, leaving it visibly damaged by the second round. The analysis notes that Maddalena needed to be more aggressive and pressure Prates against the cage, but lacked the speed and aggression required. Prates's confidence and versatility in striking from different angles overwhelmed Maddalena. Looking ahead to a potential Islam Makhachev matchup, the analysis suggests Prates has proven dangerous to southpaws with leg kicks and knockout power at distance, though Makhachev's wrestling and ability to wear down strikers presents a significant challenge. The post also suggests UFC may need to decide whether to match Prates with Vicente Luque before a title shot.
