A detailed breakdown reveals how Carlos Prates defeated Jack Della Maddalena through superior striking diversity and aggression. The analyst notes that Della Maddalena relied too heavily on boxing blocks (approximately 90% of defensive actions) against Prates' tornado of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Della Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance despite previous issues with his left leg against Makhachev, and when switching to orthodox, Prates damaged his entire left side with mid-kicks. Prates landed early and often, including a damaging knee, and his speed and versatility overwhelmed Della Maddalena's slower, more methodical striking. The analyst concludes that Prates' belief in himself and ability to attack from multiple angles would have resulted in victory regardless of Della Maddalena's preparation, describing Prates as a combination of Alex Pereira and Anderson Silva.
A post-fight breakdown of Carlos Prates' victory over Jack Della Maddalena has drawn significant attention, with analysts pointing to Prates' striking diversity as the decisive factor in the welterweight contest.
Della Maddalena, ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, entered the fight as one of the more dangerous strikers in the 170-pound class. The 29-year-old Australian, who trains out of Scrappy MMA, carries an 18-4 record and lands an impressive 5.57 significant strikes per minute. However, the breakdown highlights a critical defensive limitation: Della Maddalena relied on boxing-style blocks for roughly 90 percent of his defensive actions, a habit that left him dangerously exposed to Prates' multi-dimensional attack.
The analysis notes that Della Maddalena competed predominantly in southpaw stance throughout the fight, a choice that proved costly. His left side had already shown vulnerability against Islam Makhachev, and Prates exploited the same weakness, targeting it with mid-kicks whenever Della Maddalena shifted to orthodox. The Australian's more methodical, boxing-centric approach could not keep pace with Prates' volume and variety of weapons — kicks, knees, elbows, and punches delivered at speed from unpredictable angles.
Why it matters
- Della Maddalena's defensive habits remain a exploitable weakness at the highest welterweight level
- Prates' ability to attack from multiple angles and with multiple weapons sets him apart from typical strikers in the division
- The result carries clear rankings implications in one of the UFC's most competitive weight classes
- The analyst's comparison of Prates to both Alex Pereira and Anderson Silva suggests a fighter whose ceiling may not yet be fully understood
The analyst concludes that Prates' confidence and attacking versatility were so dominant that a different game plan from Della Maddalena would likely not have changed the outcome. A damaging early knee was cited among the pivotal moments that set the tone for the fight's direction.
