Jack Della Maddalena and Carlos Prates are set to face off at UFC Fight Night. Della Maddalena and Prates are two of the welterweight division’s elite strikers. The event takes place in the Land Down Under.
Della Maddalena’s Road to Redemption
Della Maddalena (18-3) is fighting for the first time since losing to Islam Makhachev. He lost the UFC welterweight title to Makhachev. Della Maddalena is aiming to bounce back after the defeat. He said the adjustment from facing a dominant grappler to a pure striker is a stark one.
“He can put you down in a bad way,” Della Maddalena told CBS Sports. “I need to be switched on and focused. Being defensively minded is important, but I can’t shell up. I can’t shy away from bringing offense to the table, which will ultimately win the fight.”
Della Maddalena believes he was too complacent against Makhachev. He said he learned a tough lesson in his last fight. According to Della Maddalena, he was too defensively minded and should have attacked more.
Prates’ Perspective and Title Aspirations
Prates (23-7) believes Della Maddalena made tactical errors against Makhachev. He is aware that Makhachev is a generational talent. “Makhachev is one of the best fighters. He is a two-division champ,” Prates told CBS Sports’ Brian Campbell. “I think [Della Maddalena] did maybe a wrong strategy, but it is what it is. Makhachev is good. That’s why I’m expecting the best version of JDM right now. Probably, he’s going to come angry and hungry. He just lost his belt and wants a run back to the title.”
Prates is already a prolific finisher, less than two years into his UFC run. He is in the top 10 all-time for welterweight knockouts. A big win puts him within striking distance of a title shot.
“I heard about Makhachev and Ian Garry on Aug. 15, I think, two days before my birthday,” Prates said. “I hope to be there watching that fight and challenging the champ after the fight. Definitely, after I beat JDM, the second champ I’m going to beat in a row, I’m going to be next.”
Salkilld in the Co-Main Event
Quillan Salkilld aims to break into the lightweight elite. Salkilld is quickly becoming one of Oceania’s bigger names after notching CBS Sports’ 2025 KO of the Year.
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Della Maddalena is well-prepared for welterweight’s resident knockout artist. Finding a balance between offense and defense is paramount.