Carlos Prates solidified his status as a top contender by defeating Jack Della Maddalena via TKO in the third round at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026. The fight took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, in front of a home crowd for Maddalena.
Prates showcased his skills throughout the match. He maintained control and landed significant strikes that led to the stoppage at 3:17 of the third round. With this victory, Prates improved his record to 7-1 in the UFC, boasting a perfect knockout rate with seven knockout victories.
Maddalena, a former welterweight champion, faced this setback following his previous title loss to Islam Makhachev. Before facing Prates, he had won 18 fights but now suffers from four losses in his mixed martial arts career.
After the fight, Prates celebrated with his mother and daughter in the octagon. He declared himself the “number one contender” for the welterweight title and expressed his determination to challenge for it next.
Key quotes:
- Carlos Prates: “I come for war. I train so much. I make everybody travel so far, so I couldn’t come here and just lose.”
- Carlos Prates: “Regardless of who it is, I will be there in the front row keeping an eye on my title shot and to challenge the champion.”
- Prates’ cornerman: “This motherf*cker’s already shown what he wants, he wants to take you down.”
- Carlos Prates: “I believe that the next one to compete for the belt will be me, obviously, by beating Maddalena.”
Looking ahead, Carlos Prates aims to fight for the UFC welterweight title next. His impressive performance against another former champion has positioned him as a serious contender in the division.
