When Carlos Prates steps into the octagon at UFC Perth to face Jack Della Maddalena, the significance of the moment extends far beyond the cage. For "The Nightmare," this fight represents something profoundly personal—a chance to compete in front of family members who have shaped his journey and continue to inspire his dedication to the sport.
A Fighter's Homecoming Beyond Competition
Prates requested this matchup in Perth for reasons that transcend typical fight motivation. While facing a formidable opponent in a main event slot carries obvious professional appeal, his deeper purpose centers on a 6-year-old daughter who calls Australia home. For the first time, he has brought his mother Regina overseas to meet her granddaughter in person—a moment that carries tremendous emotional weight.
The geographic reality has long defined their relationship. Thousands of miles and the vast Pacific Ocean separate them, limiting their in-person moments to brief visits scattered throughout the year. Yet this fight in Perth transforms the usual distance into an opportunity for meaningful connection. Regina, a constant fixture in her son's fighting career, has shifted her focus almost entirely away from the competition itself. "She's not even focused on the fight anymore," Prates explained. His mother's priorities have realigned completely toward meeting the grandchild she has only known through screens and photographs.
This Perth event becomes more than a sporting spectacle—it becomes a family milestone, a convergence point where personal relationships take precedence over professional ambitions.
Breaking the Cycle: A Father's Determined Path
The Weight of Absence
Prates carries a personal history that shapes his parenting philosophy profoundly. He lost his father when he was merely eighteen months old, an absence that defined his early years. Rather than view this void as formative in positive ways, Prates recognizes it as something he actively works to prevent his daughter from experiencing. "I grew up without a father and it didn't make a difference to me because it was normal," he reflected. "But I wouldn't like my daughter to feel that way too, to think like that."
This perspective reveals the depth of his commitment. Finding a father figure in coach Cris Nogueira at age fifteen provided crucial mentorship and support, but Prates understands that such fortune isn't guaranteed for everyone. He refuses to accept geographic separation as an excuse for emotional distance with his own child.
Navigating Distance with Intention
The reality of his situation demands pragmatism. Training in Brazil while his daughter lives in Australia means their time together amounts to two or three visits annually—a limitation that frustrates him but one he addresses with calculated acceptance. "Let's do the best we can with the conditions we have right now," his coach Wagner Motta has taught him. Rather than succumb to despair about circumstances beyond his immediate control, Prates optimizes what he can influence: the quality of their interactions and his commitment to being present when together.
His daughter already shows signs of inheriting her father's fighting spirit. She trains, she enjoys combat sports, and her natural inclination toward physical activity requires constant management. "If you don't slow her down, she already wants to play-fight with everyone," Prates said with obvious pride. The shared passion for martial arts creates a bridge across the distance, a common language that transcends separation.
Family as the Ultimate Prize
A Grandmother's Shifting Priorities
Regina's journey to Perth marks a significant shift in family dynamics. For years, she has served as Prates' steadying presence in his fighting career, ensuring he performs optimally in training and competition. Her dedication to his professional success has been unwavering. Yet this trip reveals a beautiful transformation: a grandmother meeting her granddaughter supersedes any championship aspirations.
The humor in Prates' voice when discussing his mother's newfound indifference to his fight is genuine. She has essentially abandoned her usual role as devoted supporter to become completely absorbed with her granddaughter. This recalibration speaks to deeper family values—the recognition that blood connections and lived moments matter more than accolades.
A Young Fighter's Legacy
His daughter's natural inclination toward fighting mirrors her father's own childhood trajectory. Unlike many children who might resist physical training, she embraces it enthusiastically. For Prates, watching her develop these interests from afar creates both joy and a poignant reminder of his limitations as a parent. He cannot be present daily to train alongside her, to guide her technique, or to build those countless small memories that accumulate into a childhood.
Yet her enthusiasm for the sport that defines him suggests that their connection transcends physical proximity. She already understands her father's world, already participates in the same combat disciplines. When she watches him compete at UFC Perth, she witnesses not just a fighter but her father pursuing his passion—a powerful lesson about dedication and discipline.
The Hidden Cost of Professional Success
Time as an Irreplaceable Asset
As Prates approaches his mid-thirties with over thirty professional MMA fights on his record, he has arrived at a profound realization: time cannot be purchased or manufactured. Money, performance bonuses, and championship titles can all be pursued and acquired, but hours spent with aging parents and growing children vanish whether you recognize their value or not.
His mother Regina is now in her seventies. The urgency in Prates' voice when discussing her becomes apparent—he knows that the window for shared experiences is finite. Yesterday he saw his mother for the first time in three days, a gap he found frustrating given her age. This awareness drives much of his decision-making beyond the octagon. The philosophical reckoning between career achievement and life satisfaction has shifted his priorities considerably.
The Infrastructure Behind the Fighter
Success in modern professional MMA requires far more than fighting ability. Prates manages complex financial arrangements, performance bonuses, contractual obligations, and career planning that extend well beyond what any individual fighter could handle alone. His team includes a manager focused on both fighting and financial matters, a dedicated financial advisor, and an accountant—each handling critical elements of his professional life.
"If I had to do everything alone, I'd be screwed," Prates acknowledged candidly. The bureaucratic and administrative demands consume tremendous mental energy, sometimes exceeding the physical toll of training. Delegation has become essential for maintaining balance and preventing complete burnout. This infrastructure, while necessary for maximizing his earnings and opportunities, also represents the hidden cost of professional success.
Perth as the Proving Ground
The Championship Pathway
The matchup against Jack Della Maddalena carries significant implications for Prates' title aspirations. His UFC record stands at six victories from seven octagon appearances, with every single win achieved by knockout. Remarkably, he has earned performance bonuses for each of these victories—an unprecedented streak that demonstrates his consistency and excitement-generating style.
A victory over Della Maddalena, a former championship contender on his home turf, would position Prates for a title shot. He would have defeated two former champions in succession, building an undeniable case for gold. At this stage of his career, with time becoming increasingly precious, capturing a championship before transitioning away from competition represents a concrete goal.
Competing in Enemy Territory
Fighting in Perth means facing crowd opposition, but Prates maintains perspective about what truly matters in the cage. "The crowd can boo or cheer, but when the cage closes, it's just two guys in there." This mental framework has served him well previously. During a prior UFC appearance in Australia, his daughter attended and watched him devastate Li Jingliang with a knockout. She will be cageside again, providing motivation that far exceeds the impact of crowd noise.
The presence of family transforms potential adversity into strength. Rather than an intimidating environment, Perth becomes a place where those who matter most will witness his performance. That distinction fundamentally alters how fighters approach the psychological dimensions of competition.
Life Beyond the Octagon
Prates recognizes that his fighting career exists within finite parameters. Approaching 33 years old with over three decades of professional fights completed, he understands that this phase of his life will eventually conclude. Unlike younger fighters with years of potential competition ahead, he operates with acute awareness of opportunity costs.
His success within the octagon—the knockouts, the bonuses, the climbing rankings—serves purposes that extend beyond sporting achievement. Every victory contributes to financial security for those he loves, enabling him to provide opportunities his own father never could. Every performance bonus strengthens his family's future. The championship ambitions remain genuine, but they coexist with deeper motivations involving legacy, presence, and the irreplaceable moments shared with aging parents and growing children.