Analysis suggests Pratos would defeat Makhachev despite wrestling advantage

A detailed breakdown of Carlos Pratos's recent performance highlights several key observations. Jack Della Maddalena relied heavily on a boxing guard defense, which proved ineffective against Pratos's diverse striking arsenal of kicks, elbows, knees, and punches. Maddalena fought predominantly in southpaw stance, which allowed Pratos to damage his left side with middle kicks. The analyst notes that Maddalena's best chance was to pressure Pratos aggressively against the fence, but he lacked the speed and aggression to execute this strategy effectively. Regarding a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev, the analysis points out that Pratos has already damaged the lead legs of southpaw opponents Leon Edwards and Della Maddalena in the first round, finishing Maddalena with a leg kick knockout. However, the piece acknowledges that Makhachev is a high-level striker himself who skillfully sets up takedowns, and questions whether Pratos would maintain his effectiveness after being controlled on the ground. The post suggests the UFC may need to decide whether to hold Pratos for a title shot or match him with Michael Morales first.