Jack Della Maddalena responds to welterweight’s callout as he looks to rebuild title hopes

The welterweight division is one of the most competitive in the sport, with several fighters near the top of the rankings making strong cases for a title shot.

One fighter gaining momentum and fans with each performance is Carlos Prates, known as ‘The Nightmare’.

Prates joined the UFC in 2024 and quickly made an impact, stringing together four straight wins, many of them ending in spectacular knockouts.

However, his run was halted by Ian Machado Garry last April, which slowed his push towards a title opportunity.

Despite that setback, Prates rebounded impressively by knocking out Leon Edwards on the undercard of UFC 322, putting himself right back into the conversation for a title shot.

Kamaru Usman appears to be next in line for a title fight. Still, Prates has shifted his focus to Jack Della Maddalena, proposing a bout that could determine the next number one contender.

The Brazilian shared a fan-made graphic of himself and ‘JDM’ on social media and tagged the UFC to drum up interest.

During a livestream with internet personality Neon, Della Maddalena responded positively to Prates’ callout: “That would be a good fight. Let’s go. I’m in.”

He went on to add: “Yeah man I’m in! He’s got pretty good striking. I reckon I’d finish him. It would have to be five rounds for sure.”

Della Maddalena needs a statement win to earn a title shot

Even though the 29-year-old is optimistic that a victory over ‘The Nightmare’ would put him next in line for a title shot, there are plenty of other contenders in the mix.

Michael Morales has put together an impressive run, and many fans feel he should be the next in line for a title opportunity.

Meanwhile, Machado Garry has also made his case clear after picking up consecutive wins over Prates and Belal Muhammad.