Carlos Prates Dominates Della Maddalena in Perth Showcase
He’s called “The Nightmare,” and on this night, it was one Jack Della Maddalena simply couldn’t wake up from.
No. 5 ranked welterweight contender Carlos Prates delivered a brutal, one-sided dismantling of the former champion in the main event in Perth, Western Australia. From the opening moments, Prates set the tone—inviting Della Maddalena forward while systematically breaking him down.
Prates’ game plan was clear and effective. Persistent attacks to the lead leg quickly paid dividends, disrupting Della Maddalena’s movement and forcing him out of his usual stance. As the fight progressed, Prates began to layer in his offense—sharp boxing combinations, crushing body work, and a perfectly timed step-in knee that repeatedly punished Della Maddalena as he ducked into range.
While Della Maddalena found a brief moment of success late in the first round with a takedown, he was unable to replicate that control. From there, it was all Prates. Elbows began to slice through the defense, opening cuts in the third round as the damage accumulated.
By the final sequence, Della Maddalena had little left to offer. Crippled by leg kicks and overwhelmed by pressure, he crumbled under a barrage of ground elbows, forcing the stoppage in what became a statement victory for “The Nightmare.”
Salkilld Stops Dariush to Take Lightweight Ranking
The lightweight division saw a shake-up as Quillan Salkilld scored a stunning first-round stoppage over veteran contender Beneil Dariush.
Dariush started strong, landing a sharp uppercut that briefly put Salkilld in danger while mixing in takedown attempts. However, once Salkilld created space, he flipped the momentum instantly. A string of big shots dropped Dariush, and follow-up strikes on the ground sealed the upset victory.
Erceg Outworks Elliott in Technical Battle
In a clash of former flyweight title challengers, Steve Erceg earned a unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott.
Elliott’s unorthodox style created early problems, but Erceg adjusted after the opening round. From there, he neutralized takedowns and showcased crisp, accurate striking, punishing Elliott’s wild entries. The win marks Erceg’s second straight after snapping a three-fight skid.
Rising Prospects Make Statements
Marwan Rahiki continued to build his reputation as a rising prospect with a sharp performance against short-notice opponent Ollie Schmid. Rahiki’s composed counter-striking led to a highlight-reel finish, as a clean left hook produced a dramatic knockout.
Brando Pericic remained perfect inside the UFC, notching his third knockout in as many appearances. In a high-paced brawl with Shamil Gaziev, Pericic’s durability and power proved decisive, as he wore Gaziev down before finishing him with a barrage of right hands.
Cam Rowston moved to 3-0 in the promotion with a dominant decision over Robert Bryczek. Known for his finishing ability, Rowston showed new layers, controlling the fight with a well-rounded skill set and an active top game.
Undercard Highlights
- Louie Sutherland secured his first UFC victory in his third appearance, utilizing relentless wrestling and five takedowns to grind out a decision win on short notice.
- Justin Tafa delivered a first-round knockout over Kevin Christian, overcoming early leg damage to land devastating power shots and finish with ground elbows.
- Jacob Malkoun extended his win streak to three, defeating veteran Gerald Meerschaert by decision after surviving a dangerous guillotine attempt.
- Colby Thicknesse earned a unanimous decision over Vince Morales, showcasing a developing striking arsenal and strong grappling control despite a late push from Morales.
- Wes Schultz pulled off a comeback submission win, locking in a third-round guillotine choke against Ben Johnston after ramping up the pressure.
- Jonathan Micallef edged out Themba Gorimbo via split decision, using early grappling and late striking pressure to secure his third UFC victory.
- Kody Steele opened the card with a statement, earning his first official UFC win via heel hook submission over Dom Mar Fab.
Takeaways
The night belonged to Carlos Prates, who didn’t just win—he made a statement in the welterweight division. With a dominant performance over a former champion, “The Nightmare” has firmly positioned himself as a serious contender.
Meanwhile, emerging names like Salkilld, Rahiki, and Rowston added fresh intrigue across multiple divisions, signaling a potential shift in the UFC landscape as new contenders rise and established names face increasing pressure.
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