Prates vows title shot only after UFC Perth, dismisses Usman and Topuria jump

Key facts

• Carlos Prates faces Jack Della Maddalena in the UFC Perth main event on Saturday at RAC Arena.
• Prates knocked out Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in November 2024.
• Jack Della Maddalena lost the welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November 2024 after a 118-day reign.
• Ilia Topuria, current lightweight champion and former featherweight titleholder, may move up to welterweight.
• Topuria defends his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at UFC White House in June.
• Kamaru Usman won a lopsided decision over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta less than a year ago.
• 10 of the 13 fights on the UFC Perth card are expected to end inside the distance, per oddsmakers.
• The event is projected to generate over KES 1.5 billion ($12 million) in direct economic impact for Perth.

Prates stakes his claim for the belt

Carlos Prates has made his position unequivocal: a victory over Jack Della Maddalena in Saturday’s UFC Perth headliner must earn him a welterweight title shot. The Brazilian, known as “The Nightmare,” knocked out former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322 in November and believes back-to-back wins over former titleholders leave no other logical next step. “The title shot [is next],” Prates told MMA Fighting. “Because I’m going to beat two former champs in a row, you know? So yeah, nobody [else] did it.” Prates dismissed the idea of facing former champion Kamaru Usman, who defeated Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta less than a year ago. “No, [Kamaru Usman doesn’t make sense], it’s going to be a title shot. No chance. After that fight, I’m just going to fight for the belt,” he said. The welterweight division currently has Islam Makhachev awaiting his next title defense, with contenders like Morales and Ian Machado Garry also in the mix.

Della Maddalena seeks hometown redemption

For Jack Della Maddalena, Saturday’s bout is a quest for redemption in front of a sold-out RAC Arena crowd. The 29-year-old West Australian lost his welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November, ending a 118-day reign that began with a victory over Belal Muhammad. Returning to his hometown, Della Maddalena must prove he still belongs among the division’s elite. The matchup is a stylistic treat for fight purists: Della Maddalena relies on relentless pressure and body-head combinations, while Prates employs a diverse Muay Thai arsenal often described as “death by a thousand cuts.” Key technical factors include distance management—Prates holds a significant reach advantage—and the clinch, where Della Maddalena showed vulnerabilities against Makhachev. The partisan Perth crowd is expected to spur the local fighter, and both men’s cardiovascular endurance will be tested if the fight extends into championship rounds.

The Topuria conundrum and Prates’s playful response

The most intriguing variable in the welterweight title picture is Ilia Topuria, the current lightweight champion and former featherweight titleholder. “El Matador” is set to defend his lightweight belt against interim champion Justin Gaethje at the UFC White House card in June. Should he win, many expect him to vacate the lightweight title and move up to welterweight to challenge Makhachev, potentially jumping the queue of contenders. When asked how he would react to Topuria leapfrogging him, Prates responded with a mix of humor and resolve. “OK, so then I go to the lightweights, I’m going to fight to the lightweight belt,” he said. “I can do 155. Of course, I can. Normally I have 85 kg, 84, so I can do lightweight. But I’m kidding. I don’t want to do too much diet anymore. But, yeah, let’s see. I’m not thinking about that, but let’s see. If it’s happening, I’m going to wait.”

Economic impact and UFC’s Australian footprint

The return of the UFC to Perth is more than a sporting event; it is a significant economic driver. Previous events in Australia have generated over KES 1.5 billion ($12 million) in direct economic impact for host cities, fueled by “fight tourism” from across the Asia-Pacific region. record bookings for the weekend, a phenomenon dubbed the “Maddalena Effect.” The UFC’s growing global footprint is reflected in the KES 2.5 billion ($20 million) annual revenue from broadcast rights in the EMEA region. In Kenya, the surge in UFC popularity is part of a broader combat sports boom in Africa, as the continent awaits its own dedicated UFC event. Fighters like Della Maddalena provide a blueprint for how a regional star can become a global brand.

Local heroes and a passing of the guard

Beyond the main event, the Perth card features several local fighters with high stakes. Steve Erceg faces veteran Tim Elliott in a flyweight bout that could put him within one win of a title shot. Quillan Salkilld takes on perennial contender Beneil Dariush in a lightweight fight described as a “passing of the guard” moment for the division. The full card includes 13 fights, with oddsmakers predicting 10 will end inside the distance. The high finish rate underscores the explosive matchmaking and the pressure on fighters to deliver in front of a passionate home crowd.

What comes next for the welterweight division

The welterweight title picture remains fluid. Islam Makhachev’s next defense has yet to be announced, with Morales and Garry among the top contenders. Kamaru Usman’s recent win keeps him in the conversation, though Prates has ruled out a fight with the former champion. If Topuria moves up, it could reshuffle the entire contender line. Prates’s path is clear: win on Saturday and demand the belt. But the division’s dynamics—Makhachev’s timeline, Topuria’s potential move, and the depth of contenders—mean nothing is guaranteed. For now, all eyes are on Perth, where a victory could set the stage for the next chapter in the 170-pound weight class.

The bottom line

• Carlos Prates insists a win over Jack Della Maddalena must lead to a welterweight title shot, dismissing Kamaru Usman as a next opponent.
• Jack Della Maddalena returns to Perth seeking redemption after losing the welterweight title to Islam Makhachev in November.
• Ilia Topuria’s potential move to welterweight after his June title defense could disrupt the contender order.
• The UFC Perth event is projected to generate over KES 1.5 billion ($12 million) in economic impact for the host city.
• 10 of the 13 fights on the card are expected to end inside the distance, reflecting the card’s explosive matchmaking.
• Local fighters Steve Erceg and Quillan Salkilld also have significant opportunities on the card.