A detailed breakdown reveals that Carlos Prates systematically dismantled Jack Della Maddalena's boxing-heavy defense with varied striking attacks. The analysis notes that Della Maddalena relied approximately 90% on a boxing block for defense, which proved ineffective against Prates' combination of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Prates severely damaged Della Maddalena's left side with middle kicks, leaving visible redness by the second round. Leon Edwards and Li Jinliang had never been knocked out before facing Prates, while Della Maddalena had never been knocked out in standup before this fight. The post suggests that in a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev, Prates' leg kicks could pose significant problems for the southpaw champion, though Makhachev's wrestling and high-level striking would create serious challenges.
Carlos Prates dismantled Jack Della Maddalena with a multi-layered striking attack that exposed a critical defensive flaw in the Australian welterweight contender, according to a detailed post-fight breakdown circulating online.
Prates, 32, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and holds the number-five ranking in the welterweight division. Fighting out of Brazil and Vale Top Team, the six-foot-one, switch-stance striker boasts a 78-inch reach and lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. The analysis found that his varied attack — incorporating middle kicks, elbows, knees, and punches in combination — gave Della Maddalena's defense no reliable answer. By the second round, visible redness had developed on Della Maddalena's left side from repeated middle kicks targeting the body.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the division at 29 years old, entered the fight with an 18-4 record and a reputation as one of the most active strikers in the weight class, averaging 5.57 significant strikes per minute. The Western Australian fighter had never previously been finished by strikes in a standup exchange. The breakdown attributed that vulnerability to an over-reliance on a boxing-based shell defense — roughly 90 percent of his defensive efforts — which offered little protection against Prates' kicks and elbows. Notably, Leon Edwards and Li Jinliang had also never been knocked out before facing Prates.
Why it matters
- Prates' win over a top-five welterweight strengthens his case for a title shot and reshapes the divisional picture at 170 pounds.
- Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, a 34-year-old southpaw from Russia carrying a 28-1 record, averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and holds a 58 percent striking accuracy mark — a complete game that would present Prates with very different problems than a pure striker.
- The stylistic analysis suggests Prates' leg kicks could trouble Makhachev's southpaw base, but Makhachev's elite wrestling and striking efficiency would counter that threat in significant ways.
