Jack Della Maddalena Faces Brutal Defeat Against Carlos Prates in Perth Showdown
Jack Della Maddalena experienced a devastating loss in his UFC career as he was thoroughly outmatched by Carlos Prates during their fight in Perth. This bout marked Della Maddalena's first appearance since losing his welterweight title to future Hall of Famer Islam Makhachev in New York. From the beginning, Della Maddalena (18-4) struggled against Prates (24-7), who is known for his knockout power. Early on, Della Maddalena sustained significant damage to his right leg, but he briefly found hope by successfully taking down Prates in the closing seconds of the first round. However, the fight quickly turned as Prates unleashed a barrage of knees and strikes, leaving Della Maddalena bloodied and dazed. He hit the canvas in pain late in the second round after a kick to his leading leg, severely limping thereafter. Prates continued to dominate, taking Della Maddalena down multiple times in the third round and taunting him to rise. With less than two minutes left in the round, Della Maddalena fell again, and Prates followed up with brutal elbows that led to the fight being stopped. Prates expressed confidence in his striking abilities, stating, "But I believed I’m a better striker. I can punch, I can knee, I can kick." In the co-main event, Quillan Salkilld (12-1) achieved a first-round knockout against veteran Beneil Dariush, showcasing his resilience after being stunned early in the fight. Meanwhile, flyweight Steve Erceg (14-4) secured a unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott (22-14-1), demonstrating superior striking skills. Overall, the event highlighted the fierce competition in the UFC, with Prates now positioning himself as the No. 1 contender in the welterweight division.
Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-05-03