Carlos Prates delivered a dominant performance at UFC Fight Night in Perth, Australia, defeating hometown favorite Jack Della Maddalena. This victory positions Prates as a strong contender for the welterweight title.
Prates showcased his striking skills throughout the fight, knocking Della Maddalena down three times before the referee stopped the bout. The Brazilian fighter’s record now stands at 24 wins, including 19 by knockout (KO), while Della Maddalena fell to 18-4 with 12 KOs.
“I can punch, I can knee, I can kick … so I’m better, and now I feel like I’m the number one contender,” Prates stated confidently after his victory.
The co-main event also featured notable performances. Quillan Salkilld achieved a first-round TKO against Beneil Dariush, improving his record to 12-1. Salkilld expressed pride in representing Australia: “But us Aussies are fucking tough, so it’s going to take a lot more than that to put us away.”
In another fight on the card, Steve Erceg secured a unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott. Erceg described the match as a clash between styles: “It was like a clash between ugly and pretty. Textbook versus unorthodox.”
Looking ahead, Prates has called for a match against the winner of the upcoming welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Makhachev. As he aims for this prestigious title, fans are eager to see how this journey unfolds.
Carlos Prates is also notable for being the first Brazilian to challenge for the welterweight title in UFC history. His recent performance has certainly raised expectations and excitement within the MMA community.
