Former UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena is eyeing a comeback to the octagon in April or May, in line with his head coach Ben Vickers, who revealed the Australian fighter is considering various high-profile opponents to mark his triumphant return to motion.
🚨 Jack Della Maddalena’s coach says they’re targeting a return in April/May and says Carlos Prates is one in every of the names “being thrown around” 👀
“We’re probably looking April/May time to get Jack back. Prates is one in every of the names being thrown around, there’s other names being… pic.twitter.com/5BeaP4JilP
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 27, 2026
Speaking recently on his team’s progress and future plans, Vickers indicated that while nothing has been officially signed, negotiations are actively underway for several potential matchups. Among the many names being discussed is knockout artist Carlos Prates, the Brazilian contender currently riding high after his devastating second-round finish of former champion Leon Edwards at UFC 322—the identical event where Della Maddalena lost his welterweight crown to Islam Makhachev in November.
Prates vs Edwards KO!! pic.twitter.com/x7vMDfkC5x
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) December 25, 2025
“We’re probably looking April/May time to get Jack back. Prates is one in every of the names being thrown around, there’s other names being thrown around,” Vickers stated. “There’s nothing signed yet, but there are talks in progress.”
The timing is strategic for the 29-year-old Della Maddalena, whose title reign was derailed after only one defense when he suffered a lopsided decision loss to the previous lightweight champion Makhachev at Madison Square Garden. The performance was marred by questions on Della Maddalena’s execution in key moments throughout the fight, with observers noting an absence of offensive output and a number of other positioning issues that the champion did not capitalize on.
A return fight against Prates would pit the Australian striker against one in every of the division’s most explosive finishers. The Brazilian has made an instantaneous impact within the UFC’s welterweight ranks, capturing the division’s attention with highlight-reel knockouts of established veterans. Prates brings heavy hands and dangerous striking, precisely the style of elite competition Della Maddalena must prove he can rebound and reassert himself as a legitimate contender in a crowded division.
Nevertheless, Vickers hinted that other opponents are also into consideration. Michael Morales and Shavkat Rakhmonov have been mentioned in previous reports as possible dance partners for Della Maddalena’s comeback, though Rakhmonov’s ongoing injury concerns and availability remain unclear. The flexibleness in opponent selection suggests the UFC and Della Maddalena’s team are prioritizing timing and matchup quality fairly than rushing right into a premature return.
“It could be nice to have a striker,” Vickers added, emphasizing the team’s desire to face someone within the stand-up game as they work to rebuild confidence following the ground-control masterclass delivered by Makhachev.
For Della Maddalena, an April or May return represents the start of what he hopes shall be a redemption arc. Despite losing the belt, the Australian maintains his rating as one in every of the division’s elite and stays firmly within the conversation for a future title shot. A victory over a high quality opponent like Prates would position him perfectly for one more run at supremacy once Makhachev’s reign stabilizes and the landscape settles.
The UFC’s welterweight division is heating up, and Della Maddalena’s comeback could provide the catalyst for an exciting period of top-tier competition throughout 2026. For now, the main target stays on a spring return and finalizing the right opponent—and if Prates gets the decision, fans will witness some of the intriguing striker-versus-striker matchups the division has to supply.