Jack Della Maddalena returns to Perth seeking redemption after haunting title loss to Makhachev

Key facts

• Jack Della Maddalena lost his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November 2025 at Madison Square Garden.
• Della Maddalena (18-2) fights Carlos Prates (23-7) on Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth.
• Prates is 6-1 in the UFC, with his only loss a decision to Ian Machado Garry about a year ago.
• Della Maddalena won the welterweight belt in May 2025 by upsetting Belal Muhammad.
• The event streams on Paramount+ starting at 4 a.m. ET.
• Co-main event features Quillan Salkilld vs. Benil Dariush.

A fighter haunted by one night in New York

Jack Della Maddalena has described his welterweight title loss to Islam Makhachev as a haunting experience that took several days to shake off. The defeat, which occurred at Madison Square Garden in November 2025, ended the West Australian's brief reign as champion just six months after he had captured the belt from Belal Muhammad. "It haunted me for a few nights, for sure," Della Maddalena said of the loss. "It wasn't the best performance. We had to go back, look what went wrong, and fix those things." To flush out the disappointment, Della Maddalena turned to an unlikely remedy: eating his way through New York City. "I just ate a lot of pizza in New York," he recalled. "I enjoyed New York City. I just sort of ate my way through the city and then got home. I was a bit sad when I got home, but that's the sport. That's what makes winning so good, is the potential of losing."

The technical flaws that cost a title

Della Maddalena identified several technical shortcomings that contributed to his defeat. He cited an inability to implement techniques to get back to his feet after being taken down, as well as insufficient footwork and a lack of calm under pressure. "Some technical things didn't go my way in the fight... not being able to implement those techniques to get back to the feet," he said. "I guess more footwork (was needed), and probably just being more calm. I think I was just too emotional going into it, but they're the things you sort of take away, come back better." The loss was only the second defeat of Della Maddalena's professional career, the first coming in his debut fight in 2016. Since then, he had won 18 consecutive bouts, including eight in the UFC, before running into Makhachev.

Prates arrives on a streak of destruction

Carlos Prates enters Saturday's main event on a remarkable run. The 32-year-old Brazilian is 6-1 in the UFC in just three years, having announced himself with a knockout on the Contender Series. Since then, he has dispatched Trevin Giles, Charles Radtke, Neil Magny, Li Jingliang, Geoff Neal and, most recently, former champion Leon Edwards. Prates' only loss in the promotion came by decision to Ian Machado Garry about a year ago. His record stands at 23-7 overall, and his recent form has earned him a matchup that many observers believe could produce a stand-up war. "I think we've earned this fight," one analyst noted. "We've had to put up with a lot of drek on these fight cards lately, but — on paper — this feels like a stand up war just waiting to happen."

Perth card carries high stakes for Australian fighters

Saturday's event at RAC Arena features a theme of "Australia vs. The World" across the card. The co-main event sees Quillan Salkilld, an exhilarating prospect, facing Benil Dariush, who was recently stopped by Benoit Saint Denis. A win for Salkilld could propel him into title contention. Other main card bouts include Tai Tuivasa vs. Louie Sutherland, Steve Erceg vs. Tim Elliott, and Brando Pericic vs. Shamil Gaziev. The preliminary card offers Cam Rowston vs. Robert Bryczek and Jonathan Micallef vs. Themba Gorimbo. For Della Maddalena, the stakes are clear: a victory would thrust him back into the welterweight title challenger conversation, while a loss would see him fall down the pecking order. The fight is his first since losing the belt, and the pressure to perform in front of a home crowd is immense.

Betting odds reflect a closely matched main event

The betting markets view the main event as a near toss-up. Della Maddalena is listed at -102, while Prates is a slight favorite at -118. The narrow spread underscores the perceived competitiveness of the matchup between two welterweight strikers. Della Maddalena's previous title win over Belal Muhammad came by decision, and his overall UFC record stands at 8-1. Prates, meanwhile, has finished most of his opponents, with five of his six UFC wins coming by knockout. The contrast in styles — Della Maddalena's technical boxing versus Prates' devastating power — adds to the intrigue. Observers have noted that Della Maddalena looked lost and grimaced through his fight with Makhachev, as if seriously upset about what was happening to him. Some speculated he might have suffered an injury, but no such claim was made officially.

Redemption or setback: what lies ahead

For Della Maddalena, Saturday represents a chance to prove that the loss to Makhachev was an aberration rather than a sign of decline. At 29, he has time to rebuild his career, but a second consecutive defeat would be a significant blow. Prates, at 32, is in his prime and seeking to establish himself as a top contender. A win over a former champion would strengthen his case for a title shot, especially given his recent victory over Edwards. The broader implications for the welterweight division are significant. With Makhachev holding the belt and Khamzat Chimaev emerging as a dominant force, the winner of this fight will need to string together additional victories to earn a title opportunity. But for now, all focus is on Perth, where two strikers are set to collide in a bout that could define their careers.

The bottom line

• Jack Della Maddalena returns to action for the first time since losing his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November 2025.
• He faces Carlos Prates, who has knocked out five of his six UFC opponents, including former champion Leon Edwards.
• The fight is the main event of UFC Perth, which streams on Paramount+ starting at 4 a.m. ET on Saturday.
• Della Maddalena has identified technical flaws and emotional control as areas needing improvement after his title loss.
• A win would put Della Maddalena back in title contention; a loss would set him back significantly.
• The card features an "Australia vs. The World" theme, with several Australian fighters in key bouts.