Carlos Prates has achieved a striking milestone by becoming the first fighter to knock out three opponents who had never been stopped by strikes before. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 fights until facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before their encounter. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out on the feet, with his only TKO loss coming via ground and pound when he was exhausted. This accomplishment highlights Prates's exceptional finishing ability against previously durable fighters.
Carlos Prates has carved out a unique place in UFC history, becoming the first fighter on record to knock out three opponents who had each never previously been stopped by strikes.
The Brazilian welterweight, known as "The Nightmare," owns a 24-7 record and currently sits fifth in the division. The 32-year-old out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — a significant frame for the weight class — and lands significant strikes at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His finishing ability is built on precision rather than volume, averaging 3.77 significant strikes per minute.
The three victims of this milestone are no ordinary opponents. Leon Edwards had gone 28 fights without being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran nicknamed "The Leech," carried a 19-9 record and had survived 27 bouts without a knockout loss on his ledger. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, entered with an 18-4 record and had never been stopped by strikes on the feet — his only prior TKO defeat came via ground and pound in a moment of exhaustion, not a clean striking finish.
Why it matters
- All three opponents were considered among the more durable fighters in the welterweight division before facing Prates
- The accomplishment underscores Prates as one of the most dangerous finishers in the 170-pound weight class
- With rankings at fifth in the division, Prates's proven ability to stop elite, tested fighters sharpens the conversation around welterweight title contention
