Jack Della Maddalena Takes On Carlos Prates in Perth, Australia Main Event

Written by: Xavier Serrano 🇵🇷

Carlos Prates at the UFC 322, United Center in Chicago  on Nov. 15, 2025 (Marcelo Woo/@marcelo.woo on Instagram)

Former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena(18-3) takes on “The Nightmare” Carlos Prates(23-7) on May 2 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, to determine a number one contender for the welterweight title.

The welterweight division has experienced a shift after a failed title defense by the Australian at UFC 322 as new contenders claim their spot as the next title challenger. Prates, currently ranked number five makes the strongest argument following a round two knockout win over former Welterweight champion Leon Edwards (22-6-0(1 NC). 

Prates made his intentions clear when asked about his approach to fighting Della Maddalena.

“If I knock JDM out, of course I will knock him out, I will knock out two former champions,” he said. 

Prates believes a win over an opponent like Della Maddalena will guarantee him a shot next at current champion Islam Makhachev. 

“All respect for him but he’s number one contender and so that fight makes a lot of sense for me,” Prates said. 

This matchup is one for the ages as both competitors are crafty strikers, posing different threats on the feet. 

With a boxing background, Della Maddalena displays elite striking as he picks his opponents apart with combinations and precise range management. Prates on the other hand, is a patient fighter with anvils for fists having won 18 fights by knockout. The Nightmare lives up to his nickname with a 91% finish rate, rarely leaving the decision in the judges hands.

Della Maddalena, a dark horse of the welterweight division, has proved to handle lanky opponents well, having defeated the likes of Randy Brown, an opponent with a significant reach advantage. Who’s to say he can’t do the same against Prates? The match up could go either way as there are realistic paths to victory for both men.

As the longer fighter, he could take a page out of Makhachev’s book and offensively grapple to wear down the Australian in hopes of slapping on a submission for the win. 

Although Prates poses just as much of a threat on the feet, Della Maddalena would realistically get the better of the exchanges due to being a faster puncher and defensively better than Prates. 

As mentioned, Prates does have knockout power which could shut out Della Maddalena’s lights, but Maddalena has the fight IQ to capitalize on the speed discrepancy. 

With respect to both fighters' skills, Della Maddalena poses the larger threat in the stand up department with better footwork, precise boxing and a stronger defense. Prates has the advantage in knockout power, elbow and knees due to a Muay Thai background, but falls behind Della Maddalena in speed and defensive awareness. 

A win for the former champion could mean a rematch against the reigning champion Islam Makhachev. With the task at hand, fans in the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia will witness hometown fighter Della Maddalena overcome his challenge in Prates, or end up like the rest and wake up from a nightmare.