Carlos Prates achieved knockout victories over three fighters who had never been stopped by strikes before facing him. Leon Edwards had never lost by knockout in 28 professional fights until Prates finished him. Li Jingliang had also never been knocked out in 27 fights before his bout with Prates. Jack Della Maddalena had never been knocked out standing, with his only TKO loss coming from ground-and-pound when he was exhausted. The post highlights the historic nature of Prates being the first to finish all three of these durable fighters by knockout.
Carlos Prates has carved out a remarkable distinction in the welterweight division, becoming the first fighter in MMA history to knock out three men who had each previously gone their entire careers without being stopped by strikes.
Prates, known as "The Nightmare," holds a 24-7 record and is currently ranked fifth in the UFC welterweight division. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains out of Vale Top Team and operates out of a switch stance, standing six-foot-one with a 78-inch reach. He connects on 55 percent of his significant strikes, a standout accuracy mark that helps explain his growing reputation as one of the division's most dangerous finishers.
Among his victims was former champion Leon Edwards, who had gone 28 professional fights without ever being knocked out before running into Prates. Li Jingliang, the 38-year-old Chinese veteran nicknamed "The Leech," had similarly never been stopped by strikes across 27 professional bouts before Prates ended that streak. Jingliang carries a 19-9 record and lands 4.46 significant strikes per minute, making his knockout loss all the more striking given his durability. Jack Della Maddalena, the 29-year-old Australian ranked fourth at welterweight and 13th pound-for-pound, had never been knocked out on his feet, with his only prior TKO defeat coming via ground-and-pound when he was already exhausted. Della Maddalena lands an exceptional 5.57 significant strikes per minute himself, underscoring just how difficult he is to hurt in a standup exchange.
Why it matters
- All three men represented legitimate tests of knockout durability before facing Prates
- The finishes establish Prates as a historically significant punching threat at 170 pounds
- At ranked fifth in the division, Prates has now built a finish résumé that few welterweights can match
- The run sets up a compelling case for a title shot or high-stakes matchup against the division's elite
