Former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is set to return to action on May 2 when he takes on 170-pound knockout king Carlos Prates at the UFC Fight Night event in Perth, Australia.
UFC’s social media accounts confirmed the booking for Saturday night’s main event. ESPN Brazil and Ariel Helwani).
Della Maddalena, 29, suffered his first loss in nearly a decade after claiming the UFC welterweight title from Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 last November. Before that, the Australian star had recorded 18 consecutive wins (8-0 UFC). Maddalena appeared to be on the cusp of a possible title reign before Makhachev decided to spoil the party by moving up to 170 pounds. Luckily, JDM will get a chance to right the ship in 2026 when they face Prates this May.
Prates, 32, is coming off a stunning knockout win over former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards. here) and eternal competitor Geoff Neal (watch here). His only loss inside the UFC Octagon came against fellow competitor Ian Machado Garry in early 2025. “Nightmare” has quickly turned into one of the most violent knockout artists in the sport today, and if he beats JDM on enemy soil, he will likely win a UFC title next.
How about fighting with your fans? Who will win this main event matchup between Della Maddalena and Prates?
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