Daniel Cormier was left stunned by Carlos Prates’s dominant performance at UFC Perth, where the rising Brazilian star delivered a statement victory over former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena.
Prates (24-7 MMA, 7-1 UFC) secured a third-round stoppage in the main event at RAC Arena on Saturday, handing Della Maddalena (18-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) his second consecutive defeat. The Australian had previously lost his title in November at UFC 322, where Islam Makhachev controlled him over five rounds with a wrestling-heavy approach.
Saturday’s win marked Prates’s second straight victory over a former champion. Earlier, “The Nightmare” knocked out Leon Edwards on the same night Makhachev dethroned Della Maddalena, further strengthening his case as a serious contender in the division.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Cormier suggested that Prates may now be firmly in the welterweight title conversation, even with other contenders in line.
“I mean, it feels like it's going to be Ian Garry, but if it was to be Prates after that, nobody would complain,” Cormier said. “And I'm going to tell you why: Because we just saw Islam beat Jack Della Maddalena in the way that he did. We saw him dominate Jack Della Maddalena to win the championship. The way Islam beat Jack was not nearly as impressive as what Carlos Prates did the other day.”
Cormier acknowledged the effectiveness of Makhachev’s title-winning performance but emphasized the striking disparity in how Prates dismantled Della Maddalena.
“Now, it was impressive. He made it look easy. But that yesterday? was crazy. That was crazy,” Cormier continued. “It looked like Della Maddalena didn't belong in there with Prates.”
Beyond the result, Cormier highlighted Prates’s evolving skill set, pointing to his patience, composure, and physical presence as key factors that could make him a serious threat at 170 pounds.
“Now, if that's how Carlos fights from now on, if that's who he is today…a guy that really takes his time, is patient, can pick people apart like that, and he's huge for the weight class. He's a real issue.”
