Jack Della Maddalena says he wants another shot at reigning champion Islam Makhachev after falling short in their first meeting.
A high-stakes welterweight main event is set for May 2 at UFC Fight Night 275 in Perth, Australia, where Jack Della Maddalena will take on Carlos Prates. Ahead of the matchup, Della Maddalena made it clear his bigger goal is a second crack at Islam Makhachev, the current titleholder he still wants to chase down.
That ambition gives this fight real weight beyond the main-event billing. In a division that is constantly reshuffling around the title picture, a win for Della Maddalena would strengthen his case as a serious contender and keep him in the conversation for another marquee opportunity. If Prates pulls the upset on the road, though, he could crash the welterweight elite in one night and force the UFC to reconsider its pecking order.
Della Maddalena said he did not shake off the loss right away, but came away believing he was beaten by the better man and needed to return to the gym to fix what went wrong. He also predicted he will stop Prates in the fifth round, making it clear that a rematch with Makhachev remains the target that is driving him.
For Australian fans, Perth is a fitting backdrop for that kind of statement fight. UFC cards in Australia routinely produce some of the loudest crowds on the schedule, and Della Maddalena will be stepping into a main event with the kind of hometown energy that can turn momentum quickly. American MMA media will also be watching closely, because this is the type of bout that often determines whether a fighter is a legitimate title threat or simply a strong name in the top 10.
Narratively, both men have something to prove. Della Maddalena needs to show he can rebound from a major setback and sharpen the parts of his game that failed him at the highest level. Prates, meanwhile, has a chance to prove he belongs in the sport’s biggest spots against an established headliner. On May 2, the result will shape more than one career arc — and if Della Maddalena gets the finish he’s calling for, the push toward Makhachev could begin again immediately.
