Carlos Prates: Jack Della Maddalena won't be a 'hard fight' for Belal Muhammad at UFC 315
Carlos Prates doesn't see Jack Della Maddalena as a stern test for UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) defends his welterweight title against Della Maddalena (17-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) May 10 in the UFC 315 main event (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Surging contender Prates confidently predicts a Muhammad win.
'I think Belal's going to win,' Prates told Home of Fight. 'Jack Della Maddalena looks like a good fighter, but he fought one time Kevin Holland and he won by split decision. Then he fought another guy, I don't remember the name, he's not even anymore in the UFC, and then he fought Gilbert Burns and he was losing the fight, and in the last minute he won the fight.
'OK, it's good but only his good win is against Gilbert Burns, and Belal Muhammad has been beating a lot of guys really good. I would like to see Jack Della Maddalena as a champ because he's striker and things like that, but I think Belal Muhammad's going to win. It's not going to be a hard fight.'
After four knockouts and four Performance of the Night bonuses to kick off his octagon tenure, Fighting Nerds' Prates (21-6 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to emerge as a top contender when he takes on Ian Machado Garry (15-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) April 26 in the UFC on ESPN 66 main event at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC 315.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC on ESPN 69's Cody Garbrandt says Sean O'Malley 'looked like sh*t' in title fight loss
UFC on ESPN 69's Cody Garbrandt says Sean O'Malley 'looked like sh*t' in title fight loss ATLANTA – Cody Garbrandt is fully focused on getting back on track with a UFC on ESPN 69 win over Raoni Barcelos on Saturday, but if he gets it done, a big fight could await. Former UFC bantamweight champ Garbrandt (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) competes for the first time since UFC 300 in April 2024 when he takes on Barcelos (19-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) at State Farm Arena (ESPN, ESPN+). It's an important bout for him, especially after recently signing a new multi-fight contract with the promotion. If Garbrandt can pull off something spectacular this weekend, as he has many times before, then it's hard not to consider a potential showdown with Sean O'Malley, who he once had a heated press conference exchange with and has since fired many verbal and social media shots toward. With O'Malley on a two-fight losing streak after consecutive title losses to champ Merab Dvalishvili, most recently at UFC 316 this month, it could be a potentially good time for the pair to settle their differences. "He should've kept smoking because he looked like sh*t," Garbrandt told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's media day. "Whatever you have to do. Sometimes you lose and you try to reinvent yourself and find yourself. At the end of the day, you know who you are, you know what you've got to do. I know I'm one of the best fighters in the world. When you lose you've got everyone in your ear saying you've got to do this and you've got to do that. Just remember what got you there and who you are the end of the day. I think that's a huge fight and pay-per-view sale, Sean and I. But I'm focused on this fight this Saturday and then we'll let everything else fall in line." After dealing with some health issues including vertigo, Garbrandt, 33, said this is "the best I've felt in a while" due to mental and emotionally clarity. He hopes that translated into the octagon, because while his reign as champion is now many years ago and there's been many ups and downs since then, Garbrandt admits he doesn't have satisfaction with his career. "I'm a former world champion – yeah, that's great," Garbrandt said. "It's something that was amazing to accomplish, but it didn't fulfilled me. For me to be here, going through what I've gone through (with) the injuries, setbacks, losses – whatever you want to call it. To wake up every day and chase this dream, to push yourself to a limit and set goals inside of the fight career, it's something that wakes me up every day. It motivates me, it scares me and fills me with all different kinds of emotions to get in there and fight another man that's willing to do whatever to get the win."
USA Today
37 minutes ago
- USA Today
Mavs deny Jason Kidd request, latest to turn down Knicks in coaching search
Mavs deny Jason Kidd request, latest to turn down Knicks in coaching search | Reports Show Caption Hide Caption Six names to replace Tom Thibodeau for the Knicks new head coach Who should replace Tom Thibodeau now that the Knicks have decided to move away from their head coach? The For The Hoops crew picks six names here. The New York Knicks moved swiftly in making the controversial decision to fire coach Tom Thibodeau after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Finding his replacement is proving to be more difficult, and perhaps harder than anybody inside Madison Square Garden thought. The Knicks have sought permission to speak with at least three sitting NBA head coaches in recent days and been turned down by every team currently employing them, according to multiple reports. ESPN reported Wednesday that Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks became the latest coach New York sought permission to speak with only to be denied by the Mavericks. The Knicks have also tried to interview Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets since firing Thibodeau on June 3, according to multiple reports. ANALYSIS: Tyrese Haliburton going to film school to decode Thunder's defense New York is coming off its first conference finals appearance in 25 years under Thibodeau, who spent five seasons with the Knicks. His firing came less than a year after he signed a three-year contract extension that hadn't even started yet. The Knicks were the fifth NBA head coach opening this offseason and the only available job at the moment. Three openings were filled when the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets each elected to elevate their interim coach from the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. The Phoenix Suns recently hired former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Jordan Ott to be its new coach. Kidd, 52, led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals and has five playoff appearances over nine seasons as an NBA head coach with the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas. He was also an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers when they won the 2020 NBA championship. Finch, 55, just took the Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals for the second year in a row. Udoka, 47, spearheaded the Boston Celtics when they went to the 2022 NBA Finals before serving a one-year suspension due to multiple violations of team policy. He was hired by Houston ahead of the 2023-24 season and has quickly turned the Rockets into a Western Conference contender in his two seasons there. Thibodeau, 67, previously served as the head coach for the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. His .579 career winning percentage is the highest by any coach without an NBA Finals appearance (minimum 300 games coached), according to ESPN. He wrote a thank you letter to Knicks fans that was posted to social media and ran as a full-page ad in Wednesday's New York Times.
USA Today
42 minutes ago
- USA Today
Report: Croatian forward Michael Ružić to withdraw from 2025 NBA draft
Report: Croatian forward Michael Ružić to withdraw from 2025 NBA draft Croatian forward Michael Ružić is reportedly withdrawing from the 2025 NBA draft and returning to Joventut Badalona, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN. Ružić averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds on 49.3% shooting from the field in 25 games across the Liga ACB, Eurocup and Spanish Cup. He finished in double figures three times, including a season-high 13 points on Oct. 13 against Casademont Zaragoza. The 7-footer competed in the combine last month, totaling three points, eight rebounds, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in two scrimmage games. He received permission to participate in the event, with Joventut Badalona still in its season. Ružić began the season projected to be a first-round pick this year, with his size, length, rebounding and ability to space the floor. He is viewed as one of the top international prospects after becoming one of the youngest players to start for Joventut Badalona. The 18-year-old dropped down draft boards after missing three months due to a thumb injury and falling out of the rotation upon his return. Those two factors, along with an inconsistent showing at the combine, likely played a significant role in his opting to withdraw from the draft. Ružić will now have the opportunity to return to Europe and improve his draft positioning for the 2026 NBA draft. He should be among the prospects to watch next year.
