Carlos Prates has his sights set on gold as he prepares to face Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC Perth on May 2.
Prates is coming off a knockout win over former champion Leon Edwards in November, a victory that followed a knockout of Geoff Neal. He called out Della Maddalena after beating Edwards, and the UFC has now matched the welterweights for the Perth headliner.
“I think that beating a former champion for the second time in a row, and by knockout, will lock in the title shot,” Prates said, adding that he wants to “get there and bring that title shot to Brazil.”
Prates considers Della Maddalena “the toughest opponent” of his MMA career so far and contrasted him with Edwards, stating, “Leon Edwards is also a former champion, but I think he was already coming off several losses.” Looking ahead to May 2, Prates said of Della Maddalena: “He’s a good boxer, and I’m a good striker. I can also throw knees, kicks, elbows. Let’s see how he reacts on May 2.”
Ian Machado Garry remains the only fighter to defeat Prates in seven UFC bouts, winning a five-round decision in April 2025. Prates is eyeing a future rematch for the belt, saying, “I’m rooting for it to change so Ian Garry and I can have our rematch for the belt,” and adding, “We want that rematch here in Brazil, you know?”
