Carlos Prates has surged into MMA Fighting’s top five welterweight rankings after defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, a result that shakes up the landscape at 170 pounds.
With the victory, Prates pushes into the elite tier at welterweight while Della Maddalena drops to No. 6. The bout marks another big step in a strong run for Prates, who has now won three straight fights and seven of his past eight in the UFC.
Each of Prates’ UFC wins mentioned in the rankings update came by bonus-winning finish, further fueling his rise. The Fighting Nerds standout is described as the hottest member of a team enjoying a bounce-back campaign.
The division’s title picture is also taking shape. Islam Makhachev is expected to defend his title next against Ian Machado Garry, with Prates, Michael Morales, and Shavkat Rakhmonov identified as future challengers at 170 pounds.
Jack Della Maddalena, who held championship status six months before these events, now finds himself outside the top five after the setback. Meanwhile, the rest of the ranked field continues to move, with Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim booked for UFC Vegas 118 on June 6, and Sean Brady vs. Joaquin Buckley and Yaroslav Amosov vs. Joel Alvarez set for UFC 328 on May 9.
In the middle of all the movement at welterweight, one name is now firmly in the mix near the top: Carlos Prates.
