Prates reveals trash talk with Della Maddalena during grappling exchange

Carlos Prates has revealed the details of a mid-fight verbal exchange with Jack Della Maddalena, offering a glimpse into the psychological battle that unfolded beneath the surface of their welterweight contest.

Prates, known as "The Nightmare," disclosed that when Della Maddalena attempted a takedown during the fight, he questioned his opponent about suddenly becoming a grappler. Della Maddalena fired back that he is well-rounded. Prates then told him he was scared. The Brazilian believes the exchange rattled Della Maddalena and that he succeeded in getting inside his opponent's head during what was otherwise a striking-heavy affair.

Prates enters the conversation as a 32-year-old Brazilian out of Vale Top Team, carrying a 24-7 record and sitting fifth in the welterweight rankings. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, he lands 3.77 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 55 percent. His grappling output is minimal, averaging just 0.21 takedowns per 15 minutes and recording no submission attempts.

Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian from Scrappy MMA, holds a 18-4 record and is ranked fourth in the division, placing him 13th in the pound-for-pound standings. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and is known primarily as a striker, landing 5.57 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy. His own grappling numbers are sparse, averaging just 0.13 takedowns and 0.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, which lends some texture to Prates questioning the takedown attempt in the first place.

Why it matters

• Both fighters are switch-stance strikers, making any grappling exchange an unusual development in their matchup
• Prates at fifth and Della Maddalena at fourth represent the top tier of a competitive welterweight division
• The psychological dynamic Prates describes adds another layer to how each fighter approaches their rivalry going forward