An analysis highlighted Carlos Prates's unprecedented knockout achievements against previously un-knocked-out opponents. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 fights before facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before Prates. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out standing, with his only TKO loss coming from ground-and-pound when exhausted in the grappling phase. This statistic showcases Prates's exceptional knockout power against durable fighters.
Carlos Prates has carved out a statistical distinction that no fighter in UFC history can claim: the Brazilian welterweight has now knocked out three separate opponents who had never previously been stopped by strikes.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," carries a 24-7 record and currently sits fifth in the welterweight rankings. The 32-year-old southpaw out of Vale Top Team stands six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach — a considerable frame for the division — and lands significant strikes at 55 percent accuracy, among the better marks in the weight class.
The analysis centers on the remarkable durability of each opponent he stopped. Leon Edwards had gone 28 professional fights without being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, the hard-chinned veteran known as "The Leech," had lasted 27 fights without suffering a knockout loss. The 38-year-old Chinese striker carries a 19-9 record and was long regarded as one of the division's more durable competitors.
The third name on the list is Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound. Della Maddalena, who holds an 18-4 record and averages an eye-catching 5.57 significant strikes per minute, had never been knocked out on the feet prior to their meeting. His only prior TKO defeat had come via ground-and-pound during a grappling exchange, making a standing stoppage a genuine rarity.
Why it matters
- Prates has built his case as one of the division's most dangerous finishers by targeting opponents whose chins had long been considered proven
- All three victims were ranked or former champions, underscoring the level of competition involved
- The achievement raises Prates's profile significantly in a welterweight division still sorting out its hierarchy beneath the champion
