Carlos Prates didn’t just win, he took over Perth.
In a violent, methodical performance at UFC Perth, Prates dismantled Jack Della Maddalena with relentless knees, elbows, and punishing leg kicks before sealing the finish in the third round, silencing the home crowd at UFC Perth and announcing himself as the #1 contender at 170 pounds.
Round 1 – An intense stare down set the tone before the fight even began, with both men clearly ready to go.
Maddalena took the center of the Octagon early, while Prates stayed light on the outside, using movement to neutralize Maddalena’s crisp boxing. Maddalena applied steady pressure, closing the distance to land to the body.
Prates, uncomfortable with his back near the fence, fired back with a flurry that pushed Maddalena off and forced him to reset on the outside. The two exchanged leg kicks before momentum shifted, with Prates beginning to press forward.
Finding his rhythm, Prates started landing clean counters, including heavy leg kicks that disrupted Maddalena’s forward pressure. Maddalena continued to march forward in search of combinations, but Prates circled well and picked his shots.
Just before the one-minute mark, Prates landed a massive knee that underscored his growing confidence after a strong opening round. Maddalena responded late, shooting for a double-leg takedown and securing top position with under 30 seconds remaining.
Round 2 – Maddalena came out for the second round looking to make adjustments, taking the center of the Octagon as Prates again worked from the outside. Prates, however, was sharper, throwing at a higher volume and with improved accuracy, punctuated by a nasty knee just past the four-minute mark.
Maddalena returned to basics, working behind the jab and mixing in leg kicks before shooting early for a takedown. He briefly got Prates down and even took the back, but was positioned too high and quickly shaken off.
Prates, fighting with his hands low, began firing combinations from all angles, forcing Maddalena into a high guard and limiting his ability to counter. Maddalena answered by backing Prates to the fence, landing a clean uppercut-right hook combination before dropping levels again and settling into a clinch.
That’s when Prates exploded. He unleashed a relentless barrage, knees, high kicks, punches upstairs, and heavy body shots, each landing with authority. Maddalena absorbed the damage and stayed upright, refusing to fold under the pressure.
A crushing leg kick from Prates forced Maddalena to switch stances, opening the door for an all-out assault. Prates poured it on with a step-in elbow, followed by a spinning elbow, and capped the sequence by dropping Maddalena with another leg kick right at the horn to close the round.
Round 3 – JDM appeared injured entering the third, switching to an orthodox stance after taking sustained damage to his lead leg from Prates. Maddalena pressed forward in search of grappling exchanges, but his takedown attempt was easily defended.
From there, Prates resumed his relentless offense, continuing to punish Maddalena with the knees to the head and body that had defined the earlier rounds.
A head kick slipped around Maddalena’s guard and dropped him. He managed to get back to his feet, only to be sent down again moments later, with Prates forcing him to stand and continue.
The elbows and knees remained a constant weapon for Prates, piling up damage throughout the round. Another crushing leg kick sent Maddalena to the canvas once more, this time for good. Prates followed him down and unleashed heavy ground-and-pound, forcing the stoppage and securing a dominant finish in enemy territory.
Following the bout Prates called for a shot at Islam Makhachev’s welterweight title.
Carlos Prates, ladies and gentlemen. You’ve been warned.
Official Result: Carlos Prates def. Jack Della Maddalena via R3 TKO, 3:17