On May 2, 2026, Carlos Prates stunned the MMA world at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, by defeating former champion Jack Della Maddalena by TKO in the third round. This victory marks a significant moment for Prates, who is now seen as a serious contender for the welterweight title.
Della Maddalena entered UFC Fight Night 275 as the No. 1 contender with an impressive 18-fight professional winning streak. However, he faced a relentless opponent in Prates, who continued landing stinging shots throughout the match.
Prates’s victory improved his UFC record to 7-1, with all seven wins coming by knockout or TKO. Remarkably, he became the first fighter to stop Della Maddalena at the UFC level. Just months prior, he had also defeated former champion Leon Edwards.
Key statistics:
- Prates has achieved three first-round KO/TKO wins within the last 8.5 months.
- Della Maddalena had not fought in his home country for three years before this event.
- Prates’s only loss came from a decision against Ian Machado Garry twelve months ago.
After his victory, Prates confidently declared himself the new No. 1 contender at 170 pounds. Observers noted that his back-to-back stoppage wins over former champions have sent a clear message to others in the division—he is a serious threat to anyone holding the title.
As MMA fans look ahead, Carlos Prates is expected to move up in the welterweight rankings following this impressive win. His performance at UFC Fight Night 275 has certainly put him on the radar of both fans and officials alike.
