Carlos Prates brutalizes Jack Della Maddalena before earning knockout in UFC Perth main event

· Yahoo Sports

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: (R-L) Carlos Prates of Brazil knees Jack Della Maddalena of Australia in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at RAC Arena on May 02, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

Carlos Prates has designs on gold after brutalizing and finishing Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Perth main event on Saturday.

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In less than three rounds, Prates systematically dismantled the former welterweight champion with a variety of strikes including nasty knees, punches, elbows and leg kicks that had the Australian wobbled several times. After putting Della Maddalena down again with a kick, Prates decided enough was enough as he jumped to the ground and just started unleashing shots until the referee had no choice but to stop the fight with the end coming at 3:17 in the third round.

Following the win, Prates paid homage to Della Maddalane but quickly turned his attention to the next title fight in the welterweight division.

“I’m not here to play,” Prates said to the Australian crowd. “I respect Jack, he’s a great champ but it’s just business. It’s part of the game. Jack is a great champ.

“I need to ask something? Who is next? In August, I will be first in line watching [Islam] Makhachev and Ian [Machado Garry] and I will be next. I’m going to fight the winner.”  

Prior to the finish, it was Della Maddalena who set the pace early as he marched across the octagon coming after Prates but the Brazilian was quick to counter with his long, rangy strikes. When Prates had time to work, he was acting like a sniper from the outside while Della Maddalena looked to close the distance and unload punches to the body and head.

With less than a minute remaining in the opening round, Prates fired a knee up the middle that appeared to connect but Della Maddalena barely blinked as he kept moving forward. Della Maddalena scored a late takedown to keep Prates guessing as the welterweights were jockeying for position in the cage.

Prates threw another knee that clipped Della Maddalena, who was once again looking to employ his wrestling. This time, Prates was able to scramble free before snapping off a quick combination that popped Della Maddalena in the mush.

Prates continued to score with that same knee that was constantly finding a home on Della Maddalena’s chin and the Brazilian started looking for the kill. He blasted the Australian with several stinging shots and he was gunning for the knockout but Della Maddalena fired back and stunned Prates momentarily.

After resetting, Prates scored with a step-in elbow and then he took Della Maddalena off his feet with a nasty leg kick. Della Maddalena limped back to his corner during the one-minute recovery period.

On the restart in the third round, Prates was looking for the kill as he just started dishing out punishment from every angle with nasty combinations with his hands, several more knees up the middle and he mixed in a few elbows for good measure. As Della Maddalena started to fade, Prates was desperately trying to go for the kill, with hopes that he could score a highlight reel knockout.

To his credit, Della Maddalena showed unreal durability and heart but he was getting picked apart with Prates using every weapon in his arsenal. Finally after putting Della Maddalena down again, Prates decided he had enough as he leapt to the ground and just hammered away until he got the stoppage for his third knockout victory in a row.

When Della Maddalena got back to his feet, he was bloodied and bruised from the sheer amount of damage he absorbed from Prates’ offensive onslaught.

With the win, Prates undoubtedly puts himself in a great position at welterweight, especially after stopping two former champions in Della Maddalena and Leon Edwards. While he conceded that Ian Machado Garry — who is the only person to beat him in the UFC — is getting the next title shot, Prates wants the winner so he can have his own shot at becoming champion.

“I’m the No. 1 contender,” Prates said. “I can’t wait to see Makhachev and Ian and then I’m going to fight the winner. Brazil never had a champion in the welterweight division. I will be the first.”  

Meanwhile, Della Maddalena suffers a second straight loss after losing his title to Makhachev this past November and then falling to Prates on Saturday. It’s a tough pill to swallow but Della Maddalena showed incredible toughness until he just finally succumbed to Prates’ relentless pressure and devastating power.

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