Carlos Prates Crushes Jack Della Maddalena in Perth, Stakes Claim for Title Shot
Carlos Prates dominated Jack Della Maddalena in Perth, stopping him in the third round and calling for a title shot against the winner of Makhachev vs Garry.
Brazilian welterweight Carlos Prates produced a dominant performance to beat hometown star Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Fight Night main event in Perth on Saturday.
Prates landed decisive strikes late in the second and repeatedly in the third round before the referee halted the contest, and he immediately positioned himself as a contender for the upcoming Makhachev vs Garry showdown.
Fight Night in Perth
The event drew a lively Australian crowd to the main arena, with expectations high for a competitive main event between Prates and Della Maddalena.
Local support centered on Della Maddalena, a former title challenger, but the night belonged to the Brazilian who executed a precise tactical game plan.
Decisive Strikes and Stoppage
Prates opened his finishing sequence late in the second round with a chopping calf kick that sent Della Maddalena to the canvas and signalled a momentum shift.
He followed in the third with a three-strike sequence — a heavy knee, a head kick and a crushing leg blow — that produced multiple knockdowns and forced the referee to stop the fight.
Post-Fight Demand for a Title Opportunity
After the stoppage Prates made an immediate bid for greater stakes, calling out the winner of the anticipated Makhachev vs Garry matchup.
He told officials and media that his striking range and finishing ability make him ready for a title-contending bout, framing the Perth victory as a statement performance.
Co-Main and Notable Undercard Results
The co-main saw Australia’s Quillan Salkilld earn a first-round technical knockout against lightweight Beneil Dariush, improving his record and electrifying the hometown crowd.
On the remainder of the main card, flyweight Steve Erceg won a unanimous decision over Tim Elliott, featherweight Marwan Rahiki recorded a TKO victory against Ollie Schmid, and heavyweight Brando Pericic knocked out Shamil Gaziev in the second round.
Heavyweight Showcase and Local Interest
The heavyweight bout between Louie Sutherland and Tai Tuivasa went the distance, with Sutherland taking a unanimous decision in a bout that drew significant attention.
That result, combined with other finishes on the card, underlined a night in Perth where several rising contenders reinforced their place on the UFC map.
Records, Momentum and Rankings Impact
With the win Prates improved to 24-7 overall and notched his 19th career stoppage, marking a third consecutive victory to build momentum in the division.
Della Maddalena, 29, suffered his second straight loss and fell to 18-4, a result that will likely affect his immediate placement among the welterweight contenders.
Implications for the Welterweight Picture
Prates’ post-fight call for a bout with the winner of Makhachev vs Garry places him squarely in the conversation as the promotion sorts contenders and plans future matchmaking.
Promoters and rankings committees will now weigh Prates’ recent run and finishing résumé against other contenders as the UFC charts a path toward marquee fights.
Carlos Prates’ emphatic performance in Perth provided a clear, marketable narrative for the welterweight division and left fans and matchmakers with a defined new challenger to consider as the sport moves toward its next set of championship matchups.
