Carlo Prates dismantles Della Maddalena in Perth and earns title shot — but a nightmare matchup awaits
Carlo Prates delivered the best performance of his UFC career by finishing Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Perth. A title fight against Islam Makhachev appears next, but it represents a deeply uncomfortable stylistic challenge for the Brazilian.
Prates at his finest in Perth
Carlo Prates traveled to Jack Della Maddalena's hometown and delivered a striking masterclass. Della Maddalena had not been stopped by strikes in years, but that changed in less than fifteen total minutes inside RAC Arena. His lead leg was systematically destroyed, his liver punished with high-velocity round kicks, and his head repeatedly struck by left hands, chopping elbows, and precision knees.
The victory stands as the best performance of Prates' UFC career — an eight-fight stretch in the organization that now features seven knockouts. His only loss, to Ian Garry, exposed certain vulnerabilities. But in Perth, Prates showed clear improvement. Rather than passively waiting for the big finish, he stayed active with jabs and kicks, keeping his accuracy high and the damage building at a consistent rate.
Comparisons to greatness
Analysts are cautiously drawing comparisons to Anderson Silva — not necessarily in style, but in the sense of spatial awareness and composure under pressure. The low hand position, willingness to work along the fence, and the way Prates discourages his opponent's offense are all traits reminiscent of Silva's prime. With this performance, Prates has entered the conversation alongside Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria as the most dangerous knockout artists in the modern UFC.
A deserved title shot with a troubling twist
The logical next step is a welterweight title fight against champion Islam Makhachev — and that is precisely where the situation becomes complicated. Prates is taken down with some regularity, and while his size and jiu-jitsu black belt make him difficult to hold, escaping from beneath Makhachev has proven to be a near-impossible task for most challengers.
For the UFC, it is also a difficult commercial proposition. Prates is a promoter's dream as a standing fighter, but fans worry that his thrilling run of devastating finishes could end on the canvas in a grappling-dominated title fight. There remains a chance that Ian Garry upsets Makhachev or the champion moves in another direction — but as long as Makhachev holds the belt, the road to gold for Prates is complicated, however much he may deserve it.
--- Source: https://www.mmamania.com/ufc-results/440935/ufc-perth-the-morning-after-carlo-prates-undeniable-title-shot-leads-to-nightmare-matchup