Jack Della Maddalena Responds to Carlos Prates’ Call-Out, Eyes Shavkat Rakhmonov for Title Shot
Jack Della Maddalena has responded to Carlos Prates’ call-out, accepting the challenge and predicting a finish in their potential bout at UFC 327 on April 11 in Miami. The Australian fighter expressed his interest in the fight, stating that Prates has “pretty good striking” but believes he can finish him in a five-round fight.
The call-out began when the Instagram page MMA ADDICT posted that the promotion is targeting ‘JDM’ vs. Prates for UFC 327. Prates shared the post on his Instagram story, tagging the UFC and adding a few emojis, including a pair of eyes and a question mark. Della Maddalena, in a candid chat with N3on, said: “Oh yeah! That would be a good fight. Let’s go. I’m in… He’s got pretty good striking. I reckon I’d finish him. It has to be a five-rounder for sure.”
Prates, whose only loss in the UFC came against short-notice opponent Ian Machado Garry, has secured two back-to-back knockout victories since then. In his last fight at UFC 322, the Brazilian became the first man to knock out Leon Edwards. Della Maddalena, on the other hand, lost his welterweight championship to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 and is now looking to bounce back with a win against Prates.
Della Maddalena’s Ambition: A Fight Against Shavkat Rakhmonov
Despite his title loss, Della Maddalena remains ambitious and has identified the ideal fight to earn his next shot at UFC gold. The Australian expressed interest in fighting Shavkat Rakhmonov, stating: “I want to fight Shavkat because beating someone like him, you get thrown right back in there.” Rakhmonov, who is undefeated in MMA and currently ranked number two in the UFC welterweight division, is looking to return to the octagon in February or March after dealing with injuries for over a year.
A win against Rakhmonov could be the key to Della Maddalena running it back with Islam Makhachev and reclaiming the title he lost at UFC 322. As Della Maddalena noted: “Islam’s wrestling is good. He’s good at holding people down, pinning. He’s really good at pinning people, and I got stuck there. [Rematch] is the dream, and that’s why I want to fight Shavkat.” With a potential fight against Prates on the horizon and a long-term goal of fighting Rakhmonov, Della Maddalena is looking to make a statement in the UFC welterweight division.
As the UFC continues to announce new fights and matchups, fans can expect to see Della Maddalena back in action soon. With his sights set on Prates and Rakhmonov, the Australian fighter is looking to prove himself as a top contender in the division. Only time will tell if he can achieve his goals, but one thing is certain – Della Maddalena is hungry for a win and a chance to reclaim his title.
