Prates focused before fighting in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Carlos Prates had to rethink his confidence before stepping into the octagon against Jack Della Maddalena . The Fighting Nerds smoker faced the former champion in the main event of UFC Perth and delivered one of the greatest performances of his career by knocking out the hometown fighter in the third round, an outcome he had anticipated, although he had doubted it at one point.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the Brazilian revealed that, in the moments leading up to the fight, he questioned whether he was underestimating his opponent. Prates considered that, being a former champion, the fight could be more balanced and difficult than he anticipated. Even so, inside the octagon, the scenario unfolded exactly as he had initially projected.
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“Sometimes I was alone, thinking about the fight, and I wondered: 'Hey, maybe I think it's going to be too easy. Maybe I'm wrong because he's a former champion, so maybe the fight will be more balanced, a little more difficult.' But no, it happened exactly as I thought,” said Carlos Prates.
Watch Carlos Prates knock out Jack Della Maddalena.
🔥 Carlos Prates 'in Jack Della Maddalena 'yı bitirdiği anlar! pic.twitter.com/me8l3YCSzl
— Cage Pulse (@Cage_PulseMMA) May 2, 2026
With the victory, Prates reached his 24th career win, maintaining a 100% 'lethality' record in the UFC, with seven knockouts in seven victories. Jack Della Maddalena, on the other hand , suffered his second defeat in the organization and his fourth as a professional.
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