Jack Della Maddalena has finally spoken out after a tough night on home soil at UFC Perth, where he fell short in front of his fellow Australians just over a week ago.

The former welterweight champion suffered a third-round technical knockout loss to Carlos Prates in the main event on May 2, marking his second straight defeat. The 29-year-old Aussie had previously surrendered the welterweight title to Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 this past November, making this setback particularly hard for the rising star.

"Thanks for all the love and support," Della Maddalena wrote on Instagram. "I could not be prouder to represent my gym [Scrappy MMA and Fitness], my family, my city and country. Not the desired result this time around but it was in line with the desired challenge; fighting the most vicious and toughest opponents."

It's been a dramatic shift in fortunes for Della Maddalena, who rode an incredible 18-fight winning streak from 2016 to 2025 before hitting this current two-bout skid. He was perfect in his first eight Octagon appearances, including a championship victory over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May 2025 that had fans believing he was the next big thing in the welterweight division.

For fans following his journey, this is a pivotal moment. How he bounces back will define his legacy—and we'll be watching every step of the way.