Carlos Prates has achieved the rare feat of being the first fighter to knock out three opponents who had never been knocked out before. Leon Edwards had never been knocked out in 28 fights before facing Prates. Li Jingliang had never been knocked out in 27 fights before their bout. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out on the feet before losing to Prates, with his only TKO loss coming from ground-and-pound when exhausted. This unprecedented streak highlights Prates' finishing power against highly durable opponents.
Carlos Prates has carved out a place in combat sports history, becoming the first fighter to knock out three opponents who had each entered their respective bouts never having been stopped by strikes before.
The Brazilian welterweight, known as "The Nightmare," holds a 24-7 record and currently sits ranked fifth in the UFC's 170-pound division. Standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach, Prates fights out of Vale Top Team and operates as a switch-stance striker who connects at a 55 percent accuracy rate. His path through three previously indestructible opponents underscores just how rare his finishing ability has become.
Leon Edwards, the former welterweight champion, had gone 28 professional fights without being knocked out before Prates ended that streak. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old orthodox striker nicknamed "The Leech," brought a 19-9 record and 27 fights of knockout resistance into his matchup with Prates — resistance that proved no more durable than Edwards'. The six-foot Jingliang lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute and carries genuine offensive output, making his stoppage all the more striking.
The third name on that list is Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian who enters the record books at 18-4. Ranked fourth in the welterweight division and 13th pound-for-pound, Della Maddalena is one of the most feared finishers in the weight class in his own right, averaging 5.57 significant strikes landed per minute at 51 percent accuracy. His only previous TKO loss had come via ground-and-pound while exhausted — he had never been stopped on the feet before facing Prates.
Why it matters
- Prates now holds wins over three of welterweight's most durable fighters, none of whom had ever been knocked out in their previous careers
- The streak reinforces his standing as one of the division's most dangerous finishers despite ranking fifth
- His 78-inch reach and switch stance create finishing angles that elite, battle-tested opponents have repeatedly failed to solve
